Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali took to Twitter to float out a message about Washington Post Reporter Jason Rezaian who had been unjustly detained in Iran for 544 days.
Rezaian was released this weekend from prison in Tehran.
The plane carrying Rezaian and his family cleared Iranian air space on Jan. 17.
Ali's tweet:
Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. The best gift of all was learning about Jason Rezaian’s release from Iran - a true blessing.
— RealALI_me (@RealALI_me) January 20, 2016
Ali issued a statement last March 12, pleading with Iran to release Rezaian who was taken from his home in Tehran on July 22, 2014. Ali had been instrumental in obtaining the release of Americans captured in Iran in the past.
Ali's March 12 statement about Rezaian was his first public statement since the death of Nelson Mandela.
Muhammad Ali's birthday is January 17. He was 74.
