Sunday, April 15, 2007

Iranians Holding Radio Free Europe Broadcaster

In the latest sign that the leaders of the current Iranian regime are not evolved enough to use Geico.com (so easy a caveman can do it), an American journalist is being detained against her will in the eighth century theocracy:
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - The U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said Saturday that Iranian authorities have prevented one of its journalists from leaving the country.
Parnaz Azima, who is based in Prague where she works for Radio Farda—Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Persian service operated jointly with the Voice of America radio broadcaster—arrived in the capital, Tehran, on Jan. 25 to visit a sick relative, the broadcaster said in an e-mailed statement.

On arrival, authorities seized her Iranian passport and have failed to return it to her, it said. It was not clear what the reason was. The statement said Azima was once asked to cooperate with Iran's intelligence services, which she refused.
Azima holds dual US/Iranian citizenship.