Brother of Washington Post Journalist and Iran Detainee, Jason Rezaian, to Testify Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel this week announced a hearing entitled, "Americans Detained in Iran," to take place at 10:00 a.m. on June 2, 2015. The hearing will highlight the cases of American citizens currently being detained in Iran and encourage their release. Ali Rezaian, brother of detainee and Washington Post journalist, Jason Rezaian, will testify at the hearing. Ali Rezaian issued the following statement in advance of his appearance before the Committee:

"While my brother continues to prove his innocence during his trial in Iran in effort to gain his freedom, I am grateful to speak on his and our family's behalf in Washington, D.C.

"My family is very encouraged by the support we have received from President Obama, the U.S. Administration and the Congress, and thank Speaker Boehner, Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for this important hearing on the plight of detainees in Iran. I am hopeful that my brother Jason will soon be vindicated and released.  I am concerned by the continued misinformation and falsehoods being spread by the Iranian media in his case. One recent Iranian news report wrongly claimed that Jason's lawyer, Leila Ahsan, was presented with information in court that will make her change her defense, a report that she denies unequivocally and that couldn't be further from the truth. Ms. Ahsan has not changed her strategy because Jason is innocent and the facts haven't changed. The truth is, and remains, that Jason has been falsely accused and imprisoned; that Jason is a talented journalist committed to doing his job within the established guidelines in Iran; and that Jason is an amazing brother, husband and son and there is no evidence to keep him detained.

"Thanks to the support of so many people in Washington, D.C., across the country and internationally who are compelled by Jason's story, my family and I have remained strong and are determined to never stop fighting until Jason comes home."

SOURCE Ali Rezaian