Iranian Journalist 'Detained On Unclear Charges'

An Iranian journalist who writes for a reformist daily has been detained and taken to Tehran's Evin prison, her sister has told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

Shahrzad Jafari told RFE/RL her sister Nushin "was arrested at home on February 4 at 2 a.m. by eight security officers. [They] confiscated her camera [and] computer case, as well as her writings."

She added that Jafari writes for the arts section of the "Etemad" daily and is not a political activist. "We have no idea why she was arrested or what the charge against her is," Shahrzad Jafari said.

However, she also said her sister had visited the campaign headquarters of former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musavi around the time of the presidential election last June.

She said Jafari is being held in Section 209 of Evin prison, where many people arrested for political reasons are housed.

Since the election, the Iranian authorities have launched a crackdown on journalists and bloggers. Dozens of them have been arrested.