GroundTruth

Iason Athanasiadis was released, as you can read at the top of GlobalPost.

Iason, a freelance journalist who had been writing for GlobalPost in Iran, was detained without charge for nearly three weeks by the Iranian government. He was picked up at the airport amid a crackdown on Western media covering the contested elections and the dramatic street demonstrations that followed.

Yesterday was a waiting-to-exhale afternoon as the first sketchy reports came in from Iran that he was going to be released. And then we got the word from the Committee to Protect Journalists, who have done outstanding work on his behalf, that the good news was confirmed. The Greek government and representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church were pivotal in making direct pleas for his release to the Iranian government. A Greek and British citizen, Iason lives in Istanbul and is on his way to be with his family and loved ones. We hope to speak with him soon. We will give you an update when we do. Check out my last post to read more about Iason and his profound talent as a reporter and photographer.

The CPJ reports that there are still more than 35 journalists, bloggers and commentators who remain under detention in Iran for their coverage of the events that unfolded there last month. We will continue to work with CPJ and other news organizations toward their release. And I am certain Iason will want to play a role in that effort. Welcome home, Iason.