Iran should take its dirty hands off Jason Rezaian

I add my voice to those of the many journalists, activists and concerned citizens in condemning the conviction of The Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian in Iran on charges that include espionage.

The US government has also formally protested the sham trial that was conducted in secrecy and the equally sham verdict that the world was made aware of by an announcement on Iranian television.

It is a mockery of international laws to hold a fake trial behind closed doors and I believe Iran should rectify this injustice immediately.

The Washington Post, a passionate champion for their employee, has reported that on July 22, 2014, the Iranian law enforcement broke into Rezaian’s home and arrested him and his wife Yeganeh Salehi, who is also a journalist.

Taken to Iran’s infamous and brutal prison Evin, Rezaian was sent to solitary confinement for months. Law enforcement has never explained to either Rezaian’s employer or his family why they did what they did. Salehi, who is an Iranian citizen, was released on bail last fall.

Rezaian, who holds both Iranian and American citizenships has been languishing in the notorious prison for 14 months now. Iran made the quest for justice a long-drawn process, taking ten months before starting the trial and taking another two to hand down the verdict.

The court has not said what the sentence is but Rezaian could be looking at a prison term anywhere from ten to 20 years.

Martin Baron, the executive editor of The Washington Post is correct in assessing the verdict as “contemptible”.

In his statement, Baron has rightfully said, "Jason is a victim – arrested without cause, held for months in isolation, without access to a lawyer, subjected to physical mistreatment and psychological abuse and now convicted without basis.”

When I called a few journalists in the newsroom at The Washington Post, they described themselves as being depressed and saddened at their colleague's plight. They all wear “Free Jason” badges, which they pin to their shirts every day and promise to do so until Rezaian comes home.

They did not go on record as all official comments are made by Baron but here are some of the facts they pointed out:

Rezaian has spent more than three times longer in jail than any other Western journalist. He has also been in prison longer than the 52 Americans held in the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis which damaged the relationship between the countries forever.

Political watchers say that Iran is using Rezaian as a bargaining chip. The US state department has tried and failed to secure his release during negotiations that led to the nuclear deal. (Ironically, this is a deal that political watchers hoped would bring Iran out of isolation and help avoid situations like that of Rezaian.)

There has been a ray of light: Iran has recently floated the idea of a prisoner swap. There are two Iranian-Americans in US prisons and they are being held for violating sanctions.

Apart from the politics, the emotional and psychological toll on the Rizaian family has been intense. Rizaian’s mother Mary and his wife Salehi have been able to see Jason in prison once every week and they report that he is depressed.

But Rizaian’s biggest defender is his brother Ali who has emerged as the family’s spokesperson and the driving force behind the #FreeJasonCampaign. He started the petition requesting Jason’s release at change.org/FreeJason which millions have signed worldwide.

Ali has put his own life on hold and on last count, has travelled 15,000km between the US and Iran. Some of his meetings have been with government officials and most have been completely useless.

He says his brother is innocent and that his detention is “unjust, cruel and inhumane”. He has urged the US to secure his release immediately.

As a journalist, I am outraged at Rizaian’s imprisonment and I urge everyone to speak out as one voice in demanding his release.

Citizens and activists, please sign this petition. Journalists, please write more stories on Rizaian. Others please share this on social media. Let’s bring Jason safely home where he belongs. Soon.