US court orders Iran to pay $180 million to journalist over detention

shaheennews

An American court on Friday ordered Iran to pay $180 million to Washington Post journalist in Tehran, Jason Rezaian, who spent a year and a half in Iranian prison.

United States District Judge Richard Leon ordered the Iranian government to pay the amount to Rezaian and his family in compensatory damages for pain, suffering and economic losses during his 18-month detention.

According to the Washington Post, the decision is largely symbolic as Iran did not answer the lawsuit. Iran is not expected to pay the damages.

In the judgment Leon said: “Iran arrested and detained Jason to increase its bargaining leverage in ongoing negotiations with the United States.”

“Holding a man hostage and torturing him to gain leverage in negotiations with the United States is outrageous, deserving of punishment, and surely in need of deterrence,” he added.

In 2014, Rezaian was arrested in his home on Tehran, where he worked as a Washington Post reporter. He was released with three other Americans on January 16, 2016.

//Petra//