Release Of Journalist From Iran A Relief For High School Friends
(CBS) -- A Washington Post journalist from Wheaton is on his way back home after spending more than a year as a prisoner in Iran.
Jason Rezaian went to high school in the western suburbs. He has been in prison since July 2014 and his release is a huge relief for his friends and family.
The hashtag Free Jason started trending with big help from Jason's friend Matt Brandseth.
"I posted every single day on Facebook and Twitter," he said. How many days he'd been in jail."
It's been more than 500 days since Rezaian and his wife were arrested at their home in Iran in July of 2014. She was released, but he was eventually charged with espionage and other crimes.
Podcast
Matt and Jason were high school friends. The two attended Wheaton Central High School for two years before Rezaian moved back to San Francisco.
"I couldn't live my life everyday knowing that was happening to him," Brandseth said. "I had to do something."
With word of Rezaian's release, there's no telling if the online petitions and social media campaigns ran by Brandseth helped. But there's one thing he does know.
"I just can't wait to see him again," he said. "As soon as I can, I will."
Brian Stetler of Chicago's West Loop also went to school with Rezaian and says he is overjoyed that he will be reunited with his family.
Since the prisoners' release, the U.S. and European nations have lifted oil and financial sanctions on Iran, saying that Iran has followed through on its promises to dismantle large sections of its nuclear program.
