NEW YORK — The Washington Post reported Wednesday that its journalist detained in Iran is in “immediate danger” as his health deteriorates and mistreatment of him intensifies. Today will mark 500 days since Jason Rezaian was arrested, the newspaper noted, with executive editor Martin Baron calling it the “grimmest” of milestones.
The newspaper said Rezaian’s brother, Ali, will deliver a petition today to Iran’s mission to the United Nations with more than 500,000 signatures asking for his immediate release.
The Post also said it has submitted new information about Rezaian to a U.N. working group on arbitrary detention. Earlier this year, it appealed to the group to intervene in the case.
The 39-year-old Rezaian, who grew up in Northern California, has dual American and Iranian citizenship.
