Iason Athanasiadis, a 2008 Nieman Fellow, was arrested after writing a piece for The Spectator on the Iranian demonstrations. He learned from his interrogators how deep is the historic hatred of the British. Read more
In response to reports that Iason Athanasiadis, a journalist detained in Iran since June 17, was released today we issued the following statement...
"We are relieved that Iason's ordeal has come to an end and that he will soon be reunited with his family and loved ones," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "However, there are still around 20 journalists imprisoned in Iran. We hope that they too will be released soon." Read more
Iason Athanasiadis, the journalist and photographer arrested in Tehran June 17, was released Sunday, July 5. He was said to have been the only non-Iranian among more than 40 journalists detained in the days of protest following the June 12 Iranian elections. Read more
Iason Athanasiadis, our friend and colleague from the Nieman Class of 2008, is being detained by the Iranian government. “The Nieman Foundation and members of the Nieman community around the world are supportive of the Greek diplomatic initiatives to secure Iason’s safe and immediate release,” said Nieman Curator Bob Giles. Read more
Iason Athanasiadis, a 2008 Nieman Fellow and freelance journalist, wrote Nieman Reports' lead story about journalists in Iran in the Summer 2009 issue. He also contributed a photo essay about contemporary Iran, and now he is reporting from Iran in the chaotic aftermath of the disputed Iranian election for the Washington Times, Global Post, and the Untold Stories blog on the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting's Web site, which is supporting his reporting in Iran. Read more
Travel through the heartlands of Sufism with the hypnotic images of Iason Athanasiadis. The exhibition runs Feb. 5 - March 10 at Harvard’s Center for Government and International Studies. Read more
An exhibit on contemporary Iran, "Exploring the Other" offers an alternative narrative of the country famously included in the “Axis of Evil” by President George W. Bush. Through the vivid photography of international photojournalist and 2008 Nieman Fellow Iason Athanasiadis, visitors will experience an Iran rarely seen in Western media. Read more
With 70 percent of its people under 30 years old, Iran is one of the youngest societies on earth. For three years, Iason Athanasiadis, Class of 2008, lived and traveled in Iran, and achieved extraordinary access in the social undergrounds that define this up-and-coming generation of Iranians, one of the most electrifying facilitators of change in the country's recent history. Read more
With Iranian influence growing throughout its region, and America faltering after so many foreign-policy debacles, Iran is hungrily eyeing the prize of regional dominance. Iason Athanasiadis, Class of 2008, talks with one of Iran's diplomatic elite, who could well be one of the officials who end up negotiating the future of the region with Washington. Read more
Iason Athanasiadis, Class of 2008, comments on the new generation of Iranians: the children of the Revolution. "The domestic social situation is more dire than at almost any other time since the Revolution," he writes. "But many Iranians have moved on from the submissive first days of the Islamic Republic ... The new generation mounts actions of social insubordination that their parents only dreamed of." Read more