Iran
Independent journalist detained in Iran after reporting for the BBCPosted Nov 14 2011
An independent journalist was detained in Iran Saturday after he covered a live report on an ammunition depot explosion for the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Farsi-language entity, an action deemed illegal as the outlet is not authorized to operate in Iran. On Saturday, Hasan Fathi reported live on the blast that killed at least 17 soldiers, according to a Huffington Post report.
Fathi is not a correspondent for the BBC, though he was identified by the BBC as an “independent commentator.”
Fathi was arrested on charges of “spreading lies about the Islamic Republic and making attempts to manipulate Iranian public opinion,” according to the Tehan Times.