Iran Summons Swiss Envoy over 'Illegal' Detention of TV Anchor

In a Tuesday statement, Bahram Qassemi said due to the prolonged detention of the Iranian citizen and Press TV’s journalist in a US jail, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Swiss ambassador (US Interest Section) and the Islamic Republic’s strong protest to the US’s illegal detention of Hashemi was conveyed to him by the Director General of Foreign Ministry for the Americas, Mohammad Keshavarz-Zadeh.

Qassemi said during the meeting, a letter of protest was delivered to the ambassador against the US security officers for detaining of and giving inhumane and discriminatory treatment to the Press TV journalist, who had traveled to the US to visit her family.

“The Iranian diplomat also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Iranian journalist,” he said.

The spokesman also said that during the meeting, it was underlined by the Iranian side that the treatment given by FBI officers and the suspicious silence of the related governmental officials towards Hashemi’s detention violate all the international commitments of the US government and serve as a stark violation of the Press TV journalist’s human rights and basic rights.

“Such discriminatory moves and violation of human rights by the US government have international consequences for Washington and it should be held accountable for them,” he said.

The Swiss ambassador said he would immediately raise up the issue with the related US officials and inform Iranian Foreign Ministry on the results.