AFP: Iran said Tuesday that two foreigners arrested for posing as journalists and interviewing the son of a woman facing execution by stoning are suspected of having links with anti-revolution groups.
TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran said Tuesday that two foreigners arrested for posing as journalists and interviewing the son of a woman facing execution by stoning are suspected of having links with anti-revolution groups.
“The two foreign nationals… had tourist visas and connection with anti-revolution groups,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said at his weekly media conference.
“Because of that they have been arrested and their case is being looked into,” he said in remarks translated in English by Press TV channel.
Mehmanparast insisted that the two posed as reporters and had been “preparing a report” of their meeting with the family of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, who is facing death by stoning over charges of adultery.
Iran’s public prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie had on Monday announced the arrests of the two foreigners, hinting that they were Germans.
He said the two had entered the Islamic republic as tourists and were “now in custody” after they had asked the son of Mohammadi-Ashtiani some questions.
He strongly hinted the detainees may be two Germans by linking them to a Iranian human rights activist, Mina Ahadi, who had raised the alarm about the arrests from her base in Germany.
