Brother of journalist detained in Iran pleads for his release

The brother of Jason Rezaian — a Washington Post journalist detained in Iran — and the executive editor of the paper expressed disappointment Wednesday that he has not yet been released, even after nuclear negotiations have concluded. 

“For the past year, my family has watched these on-again, off-again negotiations drag on,” said Ali Rezaian at the National Press Club, one year after his brother was detained on charges of espionage and other offenses. 

{mosads}”We have awaited each deadline, hoping that they can provide an opportunity for the Iranians to end their illegal and inhumane detention of my brother,” he said. “This anniversary is all the more trying because of the agreement announced … last week.”  

Rezaian also criticized the approval of the deal by the United Nations before Congress finished reviewing it. 

“We now have a nuclear agreement with Iran, which removes the country from economic sanctions. This agreement was approved by the U.N. Security Council with little opportunity for review, less than a week after it was announced,” he said. 

“Yet Jason remains in prison, after 365 days,” he said, adding that there is “little hope that the Iranian government feels any additional pressure to do the right thing.”

Rezaian told The Hill that Secretary of State John Kerry has not reached out to him since the deal was announced more than a week ago, although he has spoken with other contacts at the State Department. 

Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron said although U.S. efforts to release Rezaian were not part of the nuclear negotiations, they had taken place alongside them, and the hope was that both would conclude at the same time.   

“But of course that has not happened,” said Baron. “The nuclear negotiations that have recently concluded have sadly provided no resolution to Jason’s case.” 

Since his detention, Rezaian has been held at Iran’s notorious Evin prison, and has been subjected to isolation, interrogation, threats, and deprived of even basic medical care, Baron said. 

He said that since Rezaian’s trial began two months ago, there has been three hearings, which have been closed to outsiders, including his wife and mother, and violate international laws for fairness and due process. 

“There has been no evidence of espionage or any other wrongdoing by Jason. On the other hand, the Iranian judicial system has been the poster child for bad behavior,” Baron said. 

“This case has violated any reasonable standard for due process, for evidence, and for fair legal representation,” he said. 

A Washington Post lawyer said the paper was now petitioning the United Nations on the basis that his detention violates international human rights laws. 

“Iran has made a mockery of its own legal system,” Rezaian said.