Huffington Post:

Reza Marashi joined NIAC in 2010 as the organization’s first Research Director. He came to NIAC after four years in the Office of Iranian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. 

My friend, Iranian-American journalist Jason Rezaian, was recently arrested in Iran. When his home was raided, Jason's Iranian wife and two other dual nationals were also taken into custody. Fast forward one week, and four unknowns increasingly frighten Jason's friends and family: his whereabouts; the charges against him; who exactly is behind the decision to target Jason; and not knowing how long this entire ordeal will last. Suffering from high blood pressure, he is in dire need of his medication. Without it, his health is in danger.

To some, Jason is simply the latest in a long line of journalists who have been treated terribly by the Iranian government. To others, he's recognizable from sporadic in-person encounters or his Washington Post byline. But to me, he's J -- my good friend that also happens to be a stellar journalist in Iran.

J isn't political in his reporting, nor does he chose sides in the factional infighting that is a hallmark of Iranian politics. Instead, I've watched him grow into one of the best Tehran-based correspondents in recent memory. When he interviewed for the Washington Post job, I was one of his references. "Why should I hire Jason?," the editor asked. My response? "Because not everybody can navigate the political, economic and social labyrinth that is Iran. And J does it better than most." A quick glance at his reporting over the past two years speaks for itself...

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