National Press Club Expresses Concern Over Reported Detention of Journalists in Iran

News provided by

Jul 24, 2014, 10:53 ET

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Press Club expressed concern Thursday over reports that a Washington Post reporter, his wife and two photojournalists have been detained in Iran.

"If these reports are accurate, we urge the Iranian authorities to promptly explain this action and to release these journalists, who are merely covering news in Iran," said NPC President Myron Belkind.

A Washington Post report Thursday indicated the paper had received "credible reports that correspondent Jason Rezaian and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, were detained Tuesday evening in Tehran. The paper said it was unclear who detained them or why.

Rezaian has been accredited by the Iranian government to work as a Post correspondent in Tehran since 2012 and previously was accredited to work for other papers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, since 2008, the Post said.

Rezaian, 38, holds American and Iranian citizenship, the Post reported. Yeganeh, an Iranian citizen who has applied for U.S. permanent residency, works as a correspondent for the National, a newspaper based in the United Arab Emirates, the paper said.

Two other Americans were detained with them, both freelance photojournalists, the paper said, indicating it did not know their names.

The National Press Club, founded in 1908, is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Through its Press Freedom Committee, the club advocates on behalf of press freedom and open government worldwide.

Contact: John M. Donnelly, Chairman, National Press Club Press Freedom Committee: [email protected]; 202 746 6020.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080917/NPCLOGO

SOURCE National Press Club