The trial of an Iranian reformist accused of selling information to foreign polling agencies in Tehran has begun. Abbas Abdi and two other pollsters are being tried for conducting a survey aimed at selling information to Gallup, the most prominent polling institution in the United States. Today, the prosecutor referred to Gallup as a branch of the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Abdi was one of the students who took U.S. embassy staff hostage in Tehran in 1979. He was arrested after his polling institute published the results of its surveys in September, which indicated that three-quarters of Iranians supported resuming talks with the United States, the sworn enemy of Iran's conservative establishment. Mr. Abdi stated in court today that he made a mistake. Iranian reformists criticized this trial, claiming it has political motivations and aims to intimidate supporters of President Khatami, the reformist president. Since the beginning of the crackdown in 1999, conservatives have shut down over eighty reformist publications.
Mr. Abdi Admitted Mistake in Court Today
Abbas Abdi, an Iranian reformist, is on trial for allegedly selling polling information to Gallup, with the prosecution labeling Gallup as a CIA branch. Abdi's survey showed significant Iranian support for dialogue with the U.S., raising concerns among reformists about political motivations behind the trial aimed at suppressing dissent.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Abbas Abdi and pollsters tried for selling survey data to foreign agencies amid political tensions in Iran.
- Iranian government indict Abbas Abdi, two other pollsters
- Iranian authorities arrest Abbas Abdi
- Iranian reformists criticize Iranian government
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The trial of Abbas Abdi underscores the Iranian government's crackdown on dissent and reformist movements.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%