Citizen Truth journalist Catherine Shakdam reports on the US detainment of Iranian American journalist Marzieh Hashemi and the movement to #FreeMarzieh.

News broke this Tuesday of the arrest of prominent US-born Iranian TV anchor, Marzieh Hashemi, 59, also known as Melanie Franklin, following her arrival at St. Louis airport on Jan. 14 after filming a documentary on Black Lives Matter. Hashemi, who converted to Islam in the early 1970s and subsequently moved to Iran with her husband to pursue her career in journalism, has long been an outspoken defender of civil liberties and human rights A report published in Sky News reads: “Ms Hashemi, who has worked for Iran’s English-language service Press TV for 25 years, was arrested alongside her son, Reza, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Sunday.”

A report published in Sky News reads: “Ms Hashemi, who has worked for Iran’s English-language service Press TV for 25 years, was arrested alongside her son, Reza, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Sunday.”

The FBI has so far refused to speak to the press, not even to confirm her arrest and subsequent detention without charge. Press TV says she is denied Halal food, Islam’s dietary laws.

Her criticism of the hostilities and disdain between Saudi Arabia and Israel attracted millions of followers to her work, firmly establishing her as a media giant both in Iran and abroad.

Today she stands shackled in a US detention center, cut off from her family and friends, and perhaps legal representation, with no charges against her as far as anyone knows.