Hosseini Condemns Arrest of Press TV Reporter in Afghanistan

9 October 2007

Tehran-Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini here on Tuesday strongly condemned the arrest and beating up by US forces in Afghanistan of the Iranian English Press TV channel reporter in Kabul Faez Khorshid.

Speaking to reporters, he called the move as inhuman which runs counter to the principle of freedom of press and free flow of news and information.

Abduction, torture and arrest of a legal reporter who officially works for a newly-establish TV network engaged in reflection of realities and news, is considered as an inhuman behavior which runs counter to existing rules and regulations on freedom of reporters and free flow of information, Hosseini said.

It is vital to observe dignity of reporters under any circumstances but the Americans have once again proved that they pay no attention to this principle, he said.

The Americans do not want news and realities in Iraq and Afghanistan to be reflected, he said.

They try to limit people's access to official or military sources in order to cover up their heinous crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq and prevent free flow of information, he said.

The Americans have tried to win support of international community but to no avail, he said.

A reporter of Iranian English TV network 'Press TV' was arrested by the US security forces Sunday night in Kabul on his way home from office.

Faez Khorshid was freed after 18 hours while having bruises on the face showing he was beaten by the American soldiers.

Faez Khorshid in his latest report on presence of US forces in Afghanistan had accused US forces of being main cause of instability in the country.