Iran arrested Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter, last week. The Iranians did not offer much information on the reasons for Rezaian’s arrest saying that he was detained for questioning. Rezaaian who holds U.S.-Iranian dual citizenship was detained with his Iranian wife also a reporter. (The Washington Post, July 25, 2014, by Ernesto Londono and William Branigin)
Iran is notorious for jailing journalists, some jailed even dying from torture. While Iran is not saying much about the arrests, a government official who announced the arrests also railed against the way international organizations dealt with “Zionist crimes against Palestinians” in Gaza. It is not known if there is a connection between that statement and the arrests. In the past, journalists have been arrested for covering election fraud and human rights abuses. (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, July 25, 2014, by Danielle Keeton-Olsen)