Japan Broadcaster Freed on Bail Amid Iran Protests
Iranian authorities have released on bail a Japanese national who was jailed amid the ongoing antigovernment protests in the country. The person is believed to be a journalist from Japan's NHK network.
Iran has released on bail a Japanese national who was jailed amid the ongoing antigovernment protests in the country. The person released is believed to be Japanese broadcaster NHK's Tehran bureau chief, Shinnosuke Kawashima.
The release on bail comes as Iran faces international criticism over its crackdown on the protests, which were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being arrested by the country's morality police.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Kawashima was arrested in Tehran on October 22, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. The ministry said it had been working to secure his release and that he was now out on bail.
The antigovernment protests in Iran have lasted for over a month, with security forces cracking down hard on demonstrators. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands arrested, according to rights groups.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}The protests have posed one of the biggest challenges to Iran's clerical leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The government has accused the United States and other foreign adversaries of fomenting the unrest.
Kawashima's release on bail is a rare instance of an international journalist being freed in Iran amid the crackdown. Several Iranian journalists and activists remain in detention.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}The Japanese government has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees in Iran. It has also urged Iran to respect the freedom of the press and the safety of journalists reporting on the protests.
Source: Al Jazeera
