Press TV anchor's imprisonment mocks US claims of democracy, human rights: Social media users

Social media users and Press TV viewers have voiced their frustration with the imprisonment and ill-treatment of an anchor for Iran’s English-language Press TV by federal agents in the United States, saying the arrest mocks the US claims of democracy and respect for human rights.

Marzieh Hashemi, American-born journalist based in Iran, was detained and jailed by US federal agents for unspecified reasons while on a visit to the country on Sunday.

Hashemi’s family members and media activists have launched a social media campaign with the hashtags #FreeMarziehHashemi and #Pray4MarziehHashemi in support of the detained journalist.

Reacting to the developments, a number of social media users on Wednesday described the arrest as disrespect for internationally guaranteed fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression.

While pursuing the case of its anchor, the Iranian television news network has been interviewing a range of Hashemi’s fellow-journalists, commentators, and others to obtain their viewpoints on her imprisonment and ill-treatment at a detention facility in Washington.

A number of Press TV website readers, also by placing comments under related stories, appreciated Hashemi’s journalistic capabilities for conducting successful shows at the channel, while others said that the detention exposed the authoritarian and bullying nature of the United States. 

“Press TV Debate is her show, the best ever show on the Middle-East and as Empire USA has over 25% of all the prisoners on earth, this arrest was to be expected for a dear lady who so loved the truth,” John Ellis, a Press TV reader and viewer, commented. 

"Racist American government. When they can't prove justice in the world they arrest innocent civilians to prove there fundamentalist racist acts," another subscriber said. 

Another reader raised questions over meaningful silence of the Western media over the issue by saying, "Have any of the Western media reported on this abuse of a Muslim or are they all awaiting instructions from the White House???"

Arian, who used his fist name, said the arrest shows the growing influence of Zionists within the US institutions. “Iran must get back to the time of revolution, punch the Jewish AIPAC Governess anywhere anytime and under any circumstances!” 

He said in another comment, “There is only one solution to that. Mrs. Marzieh must Withdraw from US citizenship publicly, it is an slap in the face of AIPAC Wahhabis and godless america !”

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Wednesday called for her immediate release.

PressTV-Jailed without justice: Press TV's anchor in US custody

The Iranian English-language television news network's journalist Marzieh Hashemi has been arrested and transferred to a detention facility in Washington, D.C. without being charged.

"We condemn the illegal arrest of Marzieh Hashemi, the reporter and presenter of Press TV, and the inhumane treatment of her in jail in Washington," Qassemi was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

“The sudden arrest of an American Muslim woman, and inhuman and disrespectful behavior of US federal officers with her is a clear example of how an apartheid regime treats its non-white citizens,” Qassemi added.

Meanwhile, activists have launched a campaign to urge the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to request their immediate intervention in the detained journalist's case. 

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said it had already has written to the UN Rapporteur on Arbitrary Detention with regard to Ms. Hashemi's imprisonment. 

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk