IRAN: Greek journalist arrested in Tehran

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Reuters reports today that a Greek journalist covering the Iranian election turmoil for the Washington Times was arrested in Tehran.

There were conflicting accounts of the circumstances. A friend of Iason Athanasiadis told the British news agency that the journalist was detained three days ago on charges of “illegal activities.”
But Iranian authorities told Greece that Athanasiadis exceeded the duration of his visa, according to a Greek official who declined to be named. The official told Reuters that the arrest was made five days ago.

Word of the arrest came as about 250 people staged a rally in solidarity with the protesters in Iran in Athens’ Syntagma Square, AP reports.

At least 26 journalists have been arrested in Iran since the disputed June 12 election, according to the Paris-based media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders.

-- Amber Smith in Los Angeles