Press TV journalist detained by FBI 'to appear in court'

The scheduled court appearance of Press TV's Marzieh Hashemi will take place on Friday, the news channel reported, without elaborating.

The anchor-woman's son told Press TV that his mother was arrested in St. Louis by the FBI on a "material witness" warrant. The FBI has declined to comment.

Tehran-based Hashemi, a US-born Muslim convert who changed her name from Melanie Franklin, had been visiting her ill brother and other family members in the US.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists [CPJ] issued a statement on Friday expressing concern over Hashemi's case.

"We are concerned by the arrest of a journalist for Iranian state TV, Marzieh Hashemi, and call on the US Department of Justice to immediately disclose the basis for her detention for the past five days," said Alexandra Ellerbeck, CPJ's North America program coordinator.

Earlier this week, Hashemi's relatives and friends shared reports online of her ill treatment during detention.

They reported that the journalist was forced to remove her headscarf for a mug shot and prison authorities have denied her dietary requirements, offering her meals with pork -religiously forbidden for Muslims.

Further reports said that the journalist was unable to contact her relatives for 48 hours following her detention.

Hashemi's arrest comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US.

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