Wife of detained Dubai TV correspondent 'anxious about his safety'

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

Redha Al Basha's wife and colleagues have said the correspondent was expected to be released Wednesday night or by midday on Thursday at the latest.

His wife, Umm Ali, told Gulf News from Tehran that she spoke to him through a third person in Evin prison, where he is being held, on Tuesday.

"The contact lasted for few minutes, but was a great relief for me. I was anxious about Redha's health and safety since the last words he spoke to me were [vexing]," she said.

A colleague of Al Basha at Dubai TV, who did not want to be named, said 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.

Clashes

Al Basha, a Syrian citizen, was detained on Sunday on Valiasr Avenue and Enghelab Street amid Ashura day clashes between security forces and supporters of the Iranian opposition movement on Sunday.

"He called me on Sunday saying that the situation is difficult and that he would return home as soon as the situation permits after which I lost contact with him till Tuesday at noon when the Iranian authorities allowed me to contact him," said Umm Ali.

His colleague said Al Basha was not covering the clashes for Dubai TV, as Iranian authorities have barred journalists from doing so.

"Redha lives on Valiasr Avenue and just got caught up in the clashes," he said.

Umm Ali, who married Redha 18 months ago, said her husband was close to completing a programme in pharmaceutical studies at Tehran University, which he began seven years ago.

Al Basha's father, Ali Redha, told Gulf News in a phone interview from Aleppo, Syria, that his son worked for Tehran-based Al Kawthar Television before moving to Dubai TV, the income from which supports his family and education.

Ali, a driving instructor, said he was optimistic the Iranian authorities would release Al Basha soon "as he has never been involved with any political activities in Iran… His main focus was his study at the university," he said.