WASHINGTON, July 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from
Emily Wilkins, president of the
National Press Club, on the 10th anniversary of the arrest of
journalists Jason and Yegi Rezaian in Iran.
"On the 10th anniversary of the arrest of Washington
Post journalist Jason Rezaian and
his wife Yegi in Tehran, we want
to take a minute to recognize their resilience during their time in
captivity and how they have worked since their release to become
leaders in a growing movement to protect journalists in
trouble.
"The Rezaians have rebuilt their lives. We are happy they have
found community here in Washington
and at the Press Club. When we first met them in 2016, Jason was
not able to speak before a crowd at his own birthday celebration.
It was too much. Yegi spoke for them. Slowly we watched them gain
strength and act with purpose. They engaged in fellowships. They
went back to work. Now they are raising a family.
"They have learned much over the past ten years and increasingly
have been able to help others by sharing what they have learned.
Yegi works full time for a press freedom organization, Jason writes
about press freedom issues for the Global Opinions section of the
Washington Post. He has produced an impressive book, a podcast and
appears regularly on TV and speaks at conferences. But it is what
they do outside of these formal roles that is perhaps most
impressive and is less fully understood.
"At all hours of the day and night, on weekends and holidays the
Rezaians are on the phone trying to help journalists and others
obtain safety, get to the U.S. get settled, get housing,
fellowships, jobs and navigate the difficult world of former
hostages and exiled journalists. This is not their job. It is their
life. Without the Rezaians much of this vital work would not
be done.
"The Club is grateful to count Jason and Yegi as important
members of our community. We appreciate all the work they have
done, both through the Club and the wider journalism community. We
look forward to soon announcing other ways we will work together to
bolster press freedom in the U.S. and around the world."
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading
professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members
representing nearly every major news organization, the Club is a
leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.
Contact: Bill McCarren,
wmccarren@press.org for the National Press Club
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SOURCE National Press Club