NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A prominent American anchorwoman on Iranian state television has been arrested by the FBI during a visit to the US, the broadcaster reported Wednesday, and her son said she was being held in a prison, apparently as a material witness. Iran’s Press TV aired footage of her anchoring news programs and discussing the war in Syria, set to dramatic music. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told state TV that Hashemi’s arrest indicates the “apartheid and racist policy” of the Trump administration. Iranian-American art dealer Karan Vafadari and his Iranian wife, Afarin Neyssari, received 27-year and 16-year prison sentences, respectively. Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a permanent US resident from Lebanon who advocated for internet freedom and has done work for the US government.

Source: Egypt Independent January 17, 2019 09:56 UTC