Russian TV network official raps US for jailing Iranian journo

Dmitry Kiselyov who is the CEO of Russia Today (RT) made the remarks while talking to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) here on Monday.

He hit out at arresting PressTV's anchorwoman in the United States, describing it as failure for the US policy.

The Russian media official believed that the White House officials have no idea how to react to independent states; hence they take revenge on ordinary people.

He said that the US in a desperate effort to influence the policies of other countries, keeps taking hostages from around the world.

He said this time it has happened to an Iranian anchor and journalist.

Kiselyov stated that Hashemi is not guilty of any crimes and has been arrested just for travelling to the US to visit her ill brother.

'The US has arrested her only for the crime of being an Iranian and a Muslim and for working for the Iranians, and all free media should widely support Ms. Hashemi,' he noted.

He pointed to the similar situation of Russian journalists who have been kidnapped in the US.

Marzieh Hashemi (born Melanie Franklin) was detained last Sunday upon arrival at the St. Louis airport, in the United States. She was taken to a detention center by the FBI.

Her arrest has caused immense protest on the part of journalists and human rights associations worldwide.

Pen American Center, a non-profit organization working to defend free expression in the US and the world, in a statement called for her immediate release.

It urged the US to make it clear if there are other grounds for Hashemi's detention.

In the meantime, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in a recent tweet urged American authorities to clarify the situation

The US-born Hashemi has told her family she has been mistreated at the detention center and her hijab has been forcibly removed.

She converted to Islam after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and moved to Iran in 2008, where she started working as a TV presenter and journalist.

Earlier, the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged US to stand accountable for the arrest of Hashemi, saying there is no justification for denying her religious rights.

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