Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian has now spent a full year in prison in Iran.

One year ago, on July 22, 2014, security forces raided Rezaian's house in Tehran, confiscated his notebooks and laptop and arrested him and his wife Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist. After the arrest the authorities did not release information about the charges against them.

Authorities formally charged Rezaian with espionage and three further offences, all of them serious, on April 20, 2015. He met with his lawyer, Leilah Ahsan, for the first time since his arrest on the same day. Martin Baron, the Washington Post’s executive director, condemned the charges against the journalist.

Rezaian, who has declared his innocence, could face up to 20 years in prison. Despite international pressure and condemnation regarding his arrest, the Islamic authorities are refusing to release him.

Three hearings have been held in his trial. The latest hearing on July 13, 2015 coincided with the final stages of nuclear talks in Vienna. No conclusion was reached and a new trial date has not been set.

In a statement after the nuclear deal had been announced on July 14, 2015, Rezaian's brother, Ali Rezaian said that "the outcome of the nuclear deal does not change Jason's cruel and illegal imprisonment”

The statement also said the family will remain appreciative of the ongoing efforts of the U.S. Government on behalf of Jason Rezaian: "We are hopeful that with agreement now in place the Iranian courts will conclude this process swiftly and affirm Jason's innocence so we can bring him home and make our family whole once again." 

On July 20, 2015, Rezaian's lawyer, Leila Ahsan, said that court officials told her the next hearing will “almost certainly” be the last. “Still, it’s not clear how long it will take for the court to issue a verdict on the case after the last session,” she told the Associated Press in Tehran.

In a statement released today, The Washington Post said it has filed an urgent action petition with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention asserting numerous violations of international law and seeking the immediate release of Jason Rezaian.

Read more about Jason Rezaian on his profile.

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