Iran’s imprisonment of Jason Rezaian is an affront to justice
The writer is secretary general of Reporters Without Borders.
Jason
Rezaian must be acquitted and freed immediately. As the final hearing
in the Iranian trial of The Post’s Tehran correspondent was brought to a
close Aug. 10, the international community waits for a verdict.
RezaianRezaian must be acquitted and freed immediately. As the final hearing
in the Iranian trial of The Post’s Tehran correspondent was brought to a
close Aug. 10, the international community waits for a verdict.
is an American Iranian journalist working for one of the most respected
media organizations in the world. Iran has now illegally detained an
innocent man for 13 months.
His
arrest by Revolutionary Guards was arbitrary and illegal, taking place
in the middle of the night with no indication of the charges brought
against him until months later. The conditions of his detention at Evin
Prison are also illegal. Rezaian has been subjected to long periods of
solitary confinement, a tactic that was designed to extract a forced
confession. This practice is in direct violation of Article 38 of the Iranian constitution.
How can Iran justify violating its own laws? As a result of these
tactics, Rezaian has suffered psychological and physical stress, severe
weight loss and respiratory problems. Maintaining his detention in these
conditions is unacceptable.
