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Family asks Iran to release detained Washington Post reporter

"After 100 days, it’s time for Iran to concede Jason’s innocence and release him," the family of detained Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian wrote in a letter published online Wednesday.

By JC Finley
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, 38, is a dual-U.S. and Iranian citizen who has been detained without charge in Iran since July 2014. UPI/Twitter/Jason Rezaian
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, 38, is a dual-U.S. and Iranian citizen who has been detained without charge in Iran since July 2014. UPI/Twitter/Jason Rezaian

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The family of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter detained by Iran since July, appealed again Wednesday for his release.

Rezaian's brother, Ali, and mother, Mary Breme Rezaian, published the open letter to mark the passage of 100 days since the reporter was detained by Iranian authorities without charge.

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"If Iran has any evidence against Jason, then why have we not heard of it? If, after 100 days, Iran's professionally trained and liberally employed interrogators have found evidence against Jason, then why has he not been permitted to employ an attorney and defend himself?

"While the Iranian government claims to have safeguards in place to protect the rights of its citizens, its leaders continue to allow their subordinates to make a mockery of the laws they are tasked with upholding.

"After 100 days it's time for Iran to concede Jason's innocence and release him. Doing that would demonstrate to the world much more strength on the part of the Iranian leadership than allowing this farce to continue."

Douglas Jehl, the Washington Post's foreign editor, expressed frustration with the continued detention of his staff member.

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"It is inexplicable and utterly unacceptable that Jason Rezaian, the Post's Tehran correspondent, remains in Iranian custody," Jehl said. "After 100 days, the time is long overdue for the Iranian authorities to release Jason and to allow him to be reunited with his family."

Rezaian, 38, a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen, has worked for the Post since 2012. He and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, were among four journalists detained by Iran in July. The other two, a photojournalist and her husband, were freed in August. Salehi was released on bail in early October.

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