Club welcomes Jason Rezaian home from Iranian captivity

National Press Club members, journalism colleagues, diplomats and family members welcomed Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian home from captivity in Iran at a Club celebration on March 14.

More than 300 people gathered in the Club ballroom for an event that doubled as a tribute to Rezaian’s freedom and his 40th birthday.

Rezaian spent 545 days isolated in an Iranian prison, after being arrested by the government and unjustly convicted. He was prosecuted essentially for acting as a journalist in covering the country for The Washington Post. He was released in January.

Rezaian’s detention was “an injustice that will never be rectified,” Washington Post editor Martin Baron said at the Club event.

Baron warned that the media’s ability to do its job is under assault around the world and is even being challenged in the United States during the presidential election.

“Our freedoms cannot be taken for granted anywhere,” Baron said.

Baron and other speakers highlighted the role the Club played in maintaining a focus on Rezaian’s plight. Under the leadership of then-Club President John Hughes, the Club held news conferences, issued statements, conducted satellite interviews from the Broadcast Center, met with diplomats and held a 24-hour read-a-thon of Rezaian’s stories.

“The Club assured that Jason was never forgotten,” Baron said.

Club President Thomas Burr said that he did not know Rezaian before he was taken into custody. But as the Club became deeply involved in bringing attention to the case, he felt as if Rezaian was a friend.

Freeing Rezaian was an international effort, with Switzerland playing a key role in negotiations with Tehran, where the United States does not have a diplomatic presence.

“Neutrality does not mean that we turn out back on the world,” the Swiss ambassador to the United States Martin Dahinden said at the Club event. “The most important thing is that Jason Rezaian can celebrate his 40th birthday among us.”

Members of Rezaian’s family also spoke. His brother, Ali, thanked the Club for strengthening his resilience during the long ordeal. His wife, Yeganeh Salehi, talked about the development of their relationship and marriage.

“He became my mentor, my best friend, my true love, my husband,” Salehi said.

Now they are back together and enjoying long walks, burritos and “Star Wars.”

Earlier in the day, the Rezaians met President Barack Obama at the State Department.

Photos from the Press Club event can be found here.