The Washington Post has filed a UN petition seeking Jason Rezaian’s immediate release.

In a statement released today, one year after Jason Rezaian was arrested in Iran, 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.

Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian was arrested in his home in Tehran on July 22, 2014. 

“We continue to call on Iran for Jason’s immediate release, as he is completely innocent of any crime" said ​Washington Post Publisher Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. said.

"For the past year, Jason has endured extensive physical mistreatment and psychological abuse, and we are deeply concerned for his welfare. Jason is being deprived of his basic human rights, and we are asking the UN Working Group to render an opinion to Iran and the international community that Jason’s detention is unlawful and that he should be released immediately.”

The petition was announced during a press conference this morning. Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron spoke at the press conference: “Every aspect of this case — his incarceration, his trial, the conditions of his imprisonment — has been a disgraceful violation of human rights. And it violates common decency,” he said.

Rezaian, who has declared his innocence, is charged with a number of offences including espionage, and 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, latest on July 13, 2015. No conclusion was reached and a new trial date has not been set.