This archive report was first published on 23 November 2019.
On November 22, 2019, a U.S. judge issued a default judgment against Iran, ordering the country to pay $180 million to Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and his family for his wrongful detention and abuse in Iran's Evin prison.
Rezaian's detention lasted 544 days, during which he was subjected to physical and emotional abuse. His wife, Yeganeh, was also detained, but she was not awarded damages because she was not a U.S. citizen at the time the lawsuit was filed.
Rezaian's brother, Ali, spearheaded a campaign to secure his release, incurring costs of around $300,000. Their mother, Mary, suffered emotional distress due to her son's treatment, according to the judge's order.
Rezaian's lawyer, David W. Bowker, described his client's detention and abuse as 'a totally traumatic thing that will be with him for the rest of his life.' However, he noted that Rezaian and his family are 'doing remarkably well' and are determined to move forward with their lives.
The Iranian government did not defend itself in the case, and a spokesman for the government did not respond to a request for comment.
While it is unlikely that Iran will pay the damages, they could be paid from a fund established by Congress in 2015 to compensate victims of terrorism. The fund has paid out over $2 billion.
Rezaian is now back working full-time at The Washington Post, where he is a global opinions writer.
The Post's executive editor, Marty Baron, stated, 'His imprisonment and that of his wife Yeganeh were wholly unjustified, and his treatment in one of Iran's worst prisons was horrifying.'
