Iran extends detention of US journalist

Iran has extended the detenetion of Washington Post‘s
bureau chief in Tehran for up to 60 days, without citing
clear charges, the paper said, citing family members.
Jason Rezaian and his wife Yeganeh Salehi, also a
journalist, were arrested in July. Salehi was freed on
bail in October.
The Washington Post said hopes for Rezaian’s release
rose in late October when a senior Iranian official said
possible charges under review by the judiciary might be
thrown out.
But last week Rezaian was shown a document signed by
the judge overseeing his case and authorising the extension
of his detention, the family said.
The document was dated November 18 and said the
investigation against Rezaian continued, the newspaper
said.
Rezaian holds dual US-Iranian citizenship. But Iran
does not recognise the reporter’s American passport, the
Washington Post said.
It remains unclear why Rezaian, 38, and Salehi were
arrested on July 22 or what charges they are facing. One
conservative newspaper in Tehran has accused Rezaian of
espionage.
A lawyer hired by Rezaian’s family has not been allowed
to meet with him, the Post said.
“If authorities had evidence that Rezaian had committed a
real crime, they should have charged him shortly after his
arrest,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and
North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
“At this point, they should simply release him,” she
added. The Post quoted Ali Rezaian, Jason Rezaian’s
brother, as saying “there seems to be a disconnect” between
elements of the Iranian government.
His brother has now been held longer than any other
accredited Western journalist in the past, Ali Rezaian
said. “There have not been any charges against him, and
there is no reason to think he is guilty of anything.”
“We have never had a clear view of why Jason is being
held, how long he would be held, what might lead to his
release, or when. We still don’t,” said Post Executive
Editor Martin Baron.
“The key thing to remember is that he should never have
been arrested and imprisoned in the first place, and he
should be released immediately. There was no legitimate
reason for him to be held without charges or explanation
for more than four months. We again urge the Iranian
authorities to give him his freedom and allow him to
reunite with his family,” Baron said.