SHAFAQNA| By LeilaYazdani : Around the world, people have expressed solidary with Marzieh during this precarious time. Twitter Calls on US to Free Marzieh Hashemi and ,Twitter users are flooding the platform with tweets calling to #FreeMarziehHashemi. Displaying a photo of Marzieh Hashemi, the projection was conducted on Friday evening and reads as its topic “FREE MARZIEH HASHEMI.”
On Jan. 13, U.S.-born journalist Marzieh Hashemi was arrested at St. Louis Airport while on her way to visit a sick family member in Denver. Hashemi, an African-American Muslim, has not been charged with a crime. Like her civil rights, her religious rights have also been trampled over, with her hijab being forcibly removed and being forced short-sleeved clothing that does not comply with her religious dress code. She is being denied halal or vegetarian meals, only being offered pork, effectively denying her food.
Some advocates voice legitimate concern that Hashemi’s work on the Black Lives Matter movement is what earmarked her for state repression. It is also likely that her kidnapping and detention are part of the ongoing effort by the U.S. to crack down on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
A court document published on Friday indicates that is being held in the United States as a material witness and has not been accused of any crimes, Mehr News reported.
The Associated Press said US government officials expected her to be released immediately after her testimony before a grand jury, but Ms. Hashemi’s elder son, Hossein, was pessimistic about prospects for her immediate release, saying it was not clear yet how long his mother’s testimony would last.
A guerilla projection on the walls of the BBC
Inminds Human Rights Group and Islamic Human Rights Commission carried out a guerilla projection on the walls of the BBC in London for not revealing US mistreatments toward the detained anchor of Iranian Press TV reporter.
“We strongly condemn the abduction of Marzieh Hashemi. She is being punished for her forthright reporting, in exposing the crimes of Empire against the oppressed, both internationally and in the United States. She is a political prisoner, we demand her immediate release,” said the chair of Inminds Human Rights Group Abbas Ali, its website reported.
A political abuse of an innocent individual
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif vowed to continue looking after Hashemi as she is also an Iranian citizen. The top diplomat called her a “famous journalist” and her arrest a “very clear affront to freedom of expression; a political abuse of an innocent individual.”
IFJ expressed serious concern
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed serious concern over the detention of Iranian journalist and Press TV anchor Marzieh Hashemi.
“Iranian #journalist Marzieh Hashemi has been arrested in the US on undisclosed charges. We have serious concerns about her detention and we urge American authorities to clarify the situation,” the International Federation of Journalists said in its twitter account, Iran Press reported.
CEO: should be released immediately
Suzanne Nossel, CEO of the PEN America group promoting literature and free expression, said she is concerned Hashemi might have been targeted for her documentary work on the Black Lives Matter movement or for political reasons. “If there are other grounds for Hashemi’s detention they must be made clear, otherwise she should be released immediately,” Nossel added.
The Trump administration was fully responsible
Peyman Jebeli, IRIB World Service chief on Wednesday vehemently condemned the arrest and imprisonment of journalist, Marzieh Hashemi, saying the Trump administration was fully responsible for the safety and well-being of the Press TV anchor, iranpress told.
Twitter Calls on US to FreeMarziehHashemi
Twitter Calls on US to #FreeMarziehHashemi as lawyers attempt to unseal case.
In the vacuum left by the mainstream media’s sidelining of Hashemi’s story, Twitter users are flooding the platform with tweets calling to #FreeMarziehHashemi.
“The #FBI has grabbed journalist #MarziehHashemi. This is an attack on independent media. #FreeMarziehHashemi #PrayForMarziehHashemi #Pray4MarziehHashemi pic.twitter.com/g046I6lgYh
— Caleb T. Maupin (@calebmaupin) January 16, 2019
“Islamic Movement in Nigeria Under the leadership of Sheikh Zakzaky condemned the arrest & illegal detention of Marzieh Hashemi by US #FBI in Kano state & called for the immediate released of their leader.#FreeMarziehHashemi#Pray4MarziehHashemi @SNA110 @SMQasim92 @saifali2784 pic.twitter.com/VK3B036Gcz
— Yusuf Hamisu Sani (@yusufhsani) January 18, 2019
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria called for her immediate release, rallying with big banners featuring her likeness and reading “#FreeMarziehHashemi”, mintpressnews reporter.
Marzieh Hashemi was studying at the University of Louisiana when she came into contact with international students supporting the Iranian Revolution of 1979. After marrying an Iranian, she migrated to Iran to work as a journalist. She is best known as an anchor for PressTV. Her stories prominently featured the Black Lives Matter struggle, letting the world know about the Black community’s own struggle for self-determination. Born and raised in New Orleans, Hashemi was no stranger to white supremacy and racism, and sought to expose these crimes at every opportunity, workers.org mentioned.
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