Another blot on US's disrepute

Sunday, January 13, PressTV anchor Marzieh Hashemi was arrested by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation at Saint Louis airport, Missouri and transferred to Washington DC. Ever since she has been under improper conditions. According to her family, she hadn't been able to inform them of her situation for 48 hours. She said that her hijab had been forcibly removed and she was denied halal food in prison.

The latest reports maintain that Ms. Hashemi has twice attended a local court in Washington as a witness along her lawyer. It is also reported that she has been taken to the court without any charge in relation with a judicial investigation which has not been disclosed yet.

Reuters wrote in a brief news on Friday, January 18, that according to the plea of the US Department of Justice, Judge Havel has disclosed part of the official reason for Ms. Hashemi's arrest. It reads that she has been taken to the court as a "testifier". Jack Gibson of Fox News wrote it is expected that Ms. Hashemi will be instantly released as soon as her testimony ends before the judge in relation with what is clamed as "violation of American laws". Reuters, quoting a US government official, wrote that Marzieh Hashemi was taken to the court to testify whether PressTV is a media propagating the Iranian government; and if yes, she would be registered as an agent of a foreign government according to the "Foreign Agents Registration Act" (FARA). This act is 80 years old. Although the US officials have said that after the testimony before the jury, she will be immediately freed, her son expressed doubt on the issue saying that it is not clear how long the testimonies will take. Hussein Hashemi said, "We hope that the court will end and she will be freed this week."

Melanie Franklin is the PressTV African-American anchor who had changed her name to Marzieh Hashemi after becoming Muslim. She was born in Ohio and migrated to Iran after marriage with an Iranian and becoming interested in Islam and the Islamic Revolution. Marzieh Hashemi was unwarrantedly arrested by the FBI agents while she had gone to the US to visit her ailing brother and other relatives. She was treated as a criminal by the FBI as her hijab was removed forcibly and she was tied with chains and shackles.

PressTV broadcast the news of her arrest on Wednesday January 16. Lack of news on her situation has caused reactions among some of the media institutions. PEN America Center and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demanded for information on the reason for her arrest. IFJ wrote in a tweet, "Marzieh Hashemi, Iranian journalist has been arrested in the US while her charges have not been disclosed. We are seriously concerned about her and ask the US officials to be transparent on the issue as soon as possible."

The CEO of PEN also issued a statement in which he asked for Hasehmi's immediate release. She expressed concern that the United States has arrested PressTV anchor due to political tensions between Tehran and Washington. Suzanne Nossel, wrote that lack of information and transparency on the cause of Ms. Hashemi's arrest has strengthened the speculations that she has been arrested due to her new documentary on "Black Lives Matter" movement.

Iran's Foreign Ministry described Hashemi's arrest as political and called for her instant release.

Islamic Human Rights Commission displayed Marzieh Hashemi's picture with video projector on the central building of BBC in London. Islamic Human Rights Commission, in this symbolic measure, not only protested the US regime, it also censured the silence of western media, especially the British state-run media BBC and the so-called human rights bodies in the west.

The Chief of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) Abdulali Ali Asgari stressed that the state of Marzieh Hashemi will be pursued by the IRIB.

Famous filmmaker and media activist, Nader Talebzadeh, said that Marzieh Hashemi has been arrested in line with the scheme of the White House national security advisor John Bolton's scheme to set the grounds for confrontation with Iran. He added that Ms. Hashemi was the forehead of PressTV and one of its prominent anchors and journalists. She was paid much attention by the western media as she spoke very resolutely and was firm in her beliefs. Talebzadeh added that as Ms. Hashemi had a strong presence in the media arena and had made films and documentaries in the US, the media can give good coverage on her arrest.

Peyman Jebeli, IRIB World Service Deputy, said that the IRIB officials will make efforts to release her. He added that there is no reason for her arrest except her being an American Muslim and working in PressTV for over a decade. This IRIB official, saying that the US tries via different measures to obstruct the voice of Iranian media, added that the US pressures through sanctions indicate the palpable progress and victory of the axis of resistance over the axis of the US. Peyman Jebeli, lambasting at the misconduct of the US officials towards Marzieh Hashemi and removing her hijab, described such a measure as violation of Islamic sanctities and values.

During a press conference, the IRIB Deputy said, "We won't spare any effort to release her. But as far as we know the Americans, as they detain people without unwarrantedly, we think that mere legal measures won't work. Her issue is not just an issue of a human being. She is a mother, a grandmother and an American Muslim. We hereby ask the Americans to announce the reason for her arrest."

In the end, Jebeli said, "This is a great test for both the media and the IRIB to take a clear stance. Even if Ms. Hashemi had committed a crime, should she had been imprisoned without any charges? Is criticism of the Saudi regime and embarking on Muslims' rights a crime? This must be answered by those who claim freedom of expression and human rights."

RM/SS