Of the 10 on trial now, eight defendants have pleaded guilty while one, Farzad Kashi, has denied the charges. Before Bent-Yacoub hearing, Naseri told The Associated Press that so far the judge had not asked for the death penalty against any of the defendants. The trial has generated international concern, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has warned that its outcome could have international repercussions. The defense questions the fairness of the closed-door revolutionary court, where judge Sadeq Nourani is also the prosecutor. There is no jury.
Revolutionary courts try espionage, murder and economic crimes.
Naseri said defense lawyers would not accept the charge of espionage against Bent-Yacoub without seeing the photographs and other information that he had allegedly helped collect. The question of whether the information was confidential or of public knowledge is expected to be a central argument of the defense. Israel has denied that any of the defendants were its spies. Outside the courthouse, anxious relatives of the accused sat praying and reading prayer books. She refused to give her name.