A journalist working for a Dubai-based news channel in Iran has been “detained” in the country.
Dubai TV ’s Iran correspondent Reza Al Basha has been detained by Iranian authorities, the news channel confirmed on Tuesday after he lost contact with his family and the organisation on Sunday during violent protests in Iranian capital Tehran.
“Iranian authorities have confirmed that Al Basha has been detained as of on Sunday afternoon,” Ahmad Al Shaikh, Managing Director of Dubai TV said.
“We are working through our news centre in Tehran to resolve the matter with the concerned authorities,” he added.
The 27-year-old Syrian journalist has been out of contact since 11 am local time on Sunday when he called his family to tell them he was caught up in downtown Tehran.
It is believed that he is among the 300 people who were arrested during the violent clashes between government forces and protesters on Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram.
Reports in the Arabic media said Al Basha was not among the dead or injured “so he has most likely been arrested.”
Al Basha is a resident journalist in Iran and has been working for Dubai TV for over a year now.
