National Press Club To Host Morning Newsmaker On Jason Rezaian Case July 22 (Updated)

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Jul 21, 2015, 01:44 ET

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- News Advisory:

What: National Press Club Newsmaker News Conference to give an update on the case of Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post's Tehran Bureau Chief who is currently in Evin Prison.

Who: Ali Rezaian, Jason's brother and Rezaian family spokesperson and;
Martin Baron, Executive Editor, The Washington Post
Jay Kennedy, Vice President, General Counsel and Labor
David Bowker, Partner, Wilmer Hale representing The Washington Post

When: Wednesday, July 22 at 9:30a.m. (One year anniversary of Jason's detention).

Where: The National Press Club, 529 14^th Street NW (13^th Floor)
First Amendment Lounge

Details:

One year ago, on July 22, 2014, Iranian Security Forces swarmed Jason Rezaian's home with no warning and took him to prison where he was held without charges. For months he was interrogated and kept in solitary confinement with inadequate medical care and no access to a lawyer. Jason has been held in Iranian prison for nearly a year – three times longer than any other Western journalist.

Jason was not allowed to select his own attorney or see his case file. His lawyer is forbidden to discuss the case and has only been allowed to meet briefly with Jason to review the case. The trial sessions are held in secret and are conducted with little warning. Media are barred from the trial. Even Jason's mother Mary is not allowed to attend. The reported charges against him are vague, false and unsupported by evidence.

On July 13 Jason completed his third one-day trial session. Ali will give an update on the case after one year and how it looks in the post-Iran Agreement environment. He will also discuss challenges western business executives will face in doing business in Iran after the sanctions are lifted. Baron will discuss the paper's position on Jason's detention and the efforts by the U.S. Government to obtain his release. Bowker will discuss possible new developments in the legal strategy.

Editors Note: On Wednesday, July 29, The National Press Club will honor Jason as a winner of the John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award during its National Press Club Journalism Awards Dinner.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 or [email protected] for the National Press Club

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SOURCE National Press Club