Dubai: The Dubai TV correspondent detained in Tehran on Sunday is expected to be freed by Thursday, Gulf News has learned.

A colleague of Dubai TV’s Tehran correspondent, Redha Al Basha, has said that the television station’s office has been notified by the Foreign Press Bureau at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance that the journalist was authorised to work in Iran and was not found to be in violation of any rules.

The colleague, who did not want to be named, said Al Basha is expected to be released from Tehran’s Evin prison by midday on Thursday.

Al Basha, a Syrian citizen, was detained on Sunday on Valiasr street amid Ashura day clashes between security forces and supporters of the Iranian opposition movement.
Approximately 300 people are believed to have been arrested on the day for participating in the protests. Journalists have also been barred from covering the clashes.

Terhan prosecutor Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi had confirmed to Iranian media earlier that Al Basha had been arrested, and would be freed if found to be working in the country legally.