US judge denounces Tehran’s treatment of Jason Rezaian, says ‘holding a man hostage and torturing him to gain leverage in negotiations with the United States is outrageous’

Axar.az reports citing Timesofisrael that a US federal judge has awarded a Washington Post journalist and his family nearly $180 million in their lawsuit against Iran over his 544 days in captivity and torture while being held on internationally criticized espionage charges.

The order in the case filed by Jason Rezaian comes nearly a week after Iranian officials shut down its internet and launched a security crackdown on protesters angered by government-set gasoline prices sharply rising. As internet access has slowly trickled back on, the US government sanctioned Iran’s telecommunications minister in response to the internet shutdown.

“Iran seized Jason, threatened to kill Jason, and did so with the goal of compelling the United States to free Iranian prisoners as a condition of Jason’s release,” Leon said in his ruling.

The judge later added: “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.”