Photojournalist Iason Athanasiadis Has Been Detained By Iran

Snapping photos of the Tehran protests has put Greek-British journalist Iason Athanasiadis in jail after he attempted to leave Iran. The Washington Post journalist had written about the government in his blog just before going to the airport.

The Toronto Star quotes the journalist who has freelanced for the newspaper in the past:

"Killing a protest movement is not just about arresting its leaders," he said. "It's about cutting off the oxygen of its publicity."

The official reasoning for Athanasiadis's June 17 arrest is that he was suspected of "visa irregularites." Those who know the man say that he was arrested because his free expression of speech. AP has reported on a statement released by Athanasiadis' parents, Polymnia Athanasiadi and Georgios Fowden:

"Iason is a dedicated reporter, photographer and filmmaker who grew up in Greece and regards himself as Greek," they said, adding that they were "deeply grateful" for the Greek Foreign Ministry's efforts to secure his release.

"Iason has always maintained his integrity as an independent journalist who sells articles, photographs and film to outlets in many parts of the world" they said in their statement. "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."

Iranian journalists have borne the anger of the regime. There have been up to 30 journalists arrested since the protests began after the presidential election. There are conflicting reports to the actual number of reporters being held, Reporters Without Borders puts the toll at 34 while new York-based Committee to Protect Journalists say that there are 13 reporters being detained. Athanasiadis had lived in Iran for three years. He wrote about his sadness of a country that he had grown to love disintegrating before his eyes. At this time Greece is working on the release of Athanasiadis. He has dual citizenship with Greece and England. It is expected that he has been facing interrogation while he is being help. In the past foreign press was treated differently for Iranian citizens in the penal system. The Toronto Star reports:

"He would certainly be interrogated," says Ramin Jahanbegloo of the University of Toronto, who spent 125 days in Evin prison in 2006. "Prisoners are blindfolded, most of the time in solitary confinement, to break them down and make them confess."

But, he added, "Foreigners are treated differently, and they are usually freed quite quickly. If you are Iranian, even with dual citizenship, it would be worse."