PUBLISHED: July 5, 2009
The Associated Press reported earlier today that journalist Iason Athanasiadis has been released by Iranian authorities after being held for more than two weeks:
State television quoted a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Hasan Qashqavi, as saying that Iason Athanasiadis had been released in, what he described as the framework of Tehran-Athens ties.
There were no details on Athanasiadis’ location.
Athanasiadis, a freelance reporter who had been working for The Washington Times, was arrested on or around June 19. Athanasiadis, a dual national with both Greek and British citizenship, is believed to be the only foreigner taken into custody by Iranian authorities in the post-election crackdown that has swept the country.
In the wake of the disputed June 12 presidential elections, Iran detained hundreds of journalists, bloggers, and activists.
Iason was working on a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and was also working on a longer piece for an upcoming issue of VQR.
