Jason Rezaian to receive 2015 Hugo Shong Reporting on Asia Award

Washington Post Correspondent Jason Rezaian, who has been imprisoned by Iranian authorities on spying charges for more than a year, will be honored as the recipient of the 2015 Hugo Shong Reporting on Asia Award by Boston University’s College of Communication.

The award will be accepted by Rezaian’s brother, Ali, at a luncheon on Dec. 8 at Boston University. Ali Rezaian, who has acted as the family’s spokesman since his brother was arrested in July 2014, will speak about the circumstances surrounding his brother’s imprisonment and recent conviction in a secret trial denounced by the U.S. State Department and numerous journalism organizations. Washington Post Foreign Editor Doug Jehl will join Ali at the luncheon to discuss The Post’s experience in trying to win Jason’s freedom.

In 2014, Rezaian and his wife Yeganeh Salehi, were arrested at their home in Tehran, charged with espionage, and imprisoned. Since his arrest, Rezaian has been detained longer than any previous Western journalist in Iran. Iran recently announced that Rezaian would be sentenced to prison for his alleged crimes, although no further details have been released. Ali Rezaian told The New York Times that his brother is “an innocent man and a well-respected journalist.”

Each year, the Hugo Shong Reporting on Asia Award is presented to an individual who has displayed the highest standards of international journalism in a series of reports on matters of importance specific to Asia. This year’s recognition honors Rezaian for his courage in the face of persecution, assuring him, his family, and the journalism community that his work and circumstances have not gone unrecognized.

“Our preference – like that of his family, friends and colleagues – would be that Jason could be at Boston University to accept the award,” said College of Communication Dean Thomas Fiedler. “But we feel the need now to act in full support of Jason’s work, while hoping that soon the day will come when we can honor him in person.”

In a statement on the Washington Post’s website, Executive Editor Martin Baron said:

“The only thing that is clear is Jason’s innocence. He is a dedicated, law-abiding journalist and a good man who has been targeted with nonsensical, unsupportable, and entirely baseless allegations of espionage and other offenses. His arrest, imprisonment, and now this sham trial contradict every standard required for the fair administration of justice, and they violate international law, Iran’s own laws, and fundamental human decency.”

To show your support for Jason’s release and freedom of the press, please visit Change.org and sign the petition, which will be presented to the United Nations as early as December 4 – marking Rezaian’s 500th day of incarceration.

Washington Post Foreign Editor Doug Jehl will join Ali at the luncheon to discuss Jason’s situation and The Post’s experience in trying to win Jason’s freedom.

The Hugo Shong Reporting on Asia Award event will take place at the Boston University Castle, 225 Bay State Road, from 12 – 2:30 p.m on December 8. The ceremony is free and open to the public.