Today marks one year since my brother was unlawfully arrested and taken to Evin Prison in Tehran. For 365 days, he's persevered through an unnecessary and unjust detention -- a year of his life wasted for no good reason.
Jason is soon set to face what will likely be his final trial hearing. Time is always of the essence, but our sense of urgency has never been greater. Today, we delivered an important announcement for how we’re taking the campaign forward: http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/national/martin-baron-ali-rezaian-speak-on-the-one-year-anniversary-of-jason-rezaians-detainment-in-iran/2015/07/22/44503e86-3099-11e5-a879-213078d03dd3_video.html
We all know Iran has repeatedly denied Jason his basic human rights. Those that have played a role in his continued detention have committed too many violations of Iranian and international law to count. We hope that this urgent action will compel Iran to release Jason once and for all.
We’ve come a long way in this fight, but our work is not done until Jason is released. Please do what you can to keep attention on Jason’s case. As always, thank you for everything you have done during the last year. My family is forever grateful.
July 22, 2015
The Washington Post has filed an urgent action petition with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention asserting numerous violations of international law and seeking the immediate release of Post Tehran correspondent Jason Rezaian. Rezaian was arrested on July 22, 2014 and has been detained in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison for the last year. For months, Rezaian was held without formal charges and without access to counsel. He has been subjected to harsh interrogation and months of solitary confinement.
Washington Post Publisher Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. said, “We continue to call on Iran for Jason’s immediate release, as he is completely innocent of any crime. For the past year, Jason has endured extensive physical mistreatment and psychological abuse, and we are deeply concerned for his welfare. Jason is being deprived of his basic human rights, and we are asking the UN Working Group to render an opinion to Iran and the international community that Jason’s detention is unlawful and that he should be released immediately.”
The petition, which was announced during a press conference this morning at the National Press Club, asserts that Rezaian’s detention is arbitrary and unlawful under both Iranian and international law, and includes a formal request for “Urgent Action” by the Working Group, a step which is available in cases where continued detention may constitute a serious danger to an individual’s health or safety.
Click here for Washington Post Update.
