NEW YORK (AP) – The brother of a Washington Post reporter detained in Iran since July 2014 delivered a petition to Iran’s United Nations mission on Thursday demanding the journalist’s release.
“They need to know that folks around the world are concerned about this,” Ali Rezaian said before handing over the petition seeking the release of his brother Jason Rezaian.
Thursday marked 500 days since Jason Rezaian’s arrest on July 22, 2014. Rezaian was detained with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, and two photojournalists. The others were released, but Rezaian went on trial in four closed-door court hearings at Tehran’s Revolutionary Court.
Iranian state TV reported last month that Rezaian had been sentenced to an unspecified prison term following his conviction on charges that include espionage.
The 39-year-old Rezaian has dual American and Iranian citizenship. The Washington Post and his family say he had no involvement in spying.