Iason Athanasiadis, one of our very earliest contributors and supporters, is being held in custody by the Iranian authorities.

Iason, a Greek citizen, is an award-winning journalist and photographer who was a Harvard Nieman Fellow in 2008. He was covering Iran for the Washington Times and others under a journalist visa when he disappeared from view on the evening of 17th July.

We discovered much later that Iason had been arrested at Tehran International Airport as he tried to board the flight expelling him and most other foreign correspondents from the country.

We have spent the last week frantically trying to ascertain his whereabouts. As of Sunday, we were informed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs that their Ambassador in Tehran had confirmed his arrest. We understand that as of today, The Greek Ambassador in Tehran has seen him, and that Iason was arrested for 'visa irregularities'. It is claimed Iason went to Qom, the holy city of Iran, without the correct permit.

Iason loves Iran, and has spent years in the country, speaks Farsi fluently, and studied for his Masters at the University of Tehran.

The Greek Foreign Ministry is taking the lead on all negotiations for his release, and we promise we are doing everything in our power to help.

His parents, Polymnia Athanasiadis and Georgios Fowden, released the following statement:
"Iason has always maintained his integrity as an independent journalist who sells articles, photographs and film to outlets in many parts of the world. His work serves no purpose other than the fair and humane coverage of life in the many countries where he has worked. He has a particular love of Iran, and a deep respect for its cultural and religious traditions."

The Nieman Centre Curator at Harvard Bob Giles released this: “His dispatches from Iran are the work of a professional journalist who cares deeply about the Iranian people, for whom he has developed a deep affection during his years of reporting there.”

Iason is not alone. He is one of at least 40 journalists being held after the recent elections.