The Arabic television network al-Jazeera is urging Syria and Iran to provide more details on what happened to one of its reporters who disappeared in Syria last month.
An al-Jazeera spokesman says the network is very concerned about the well-being of the reporter, Dorothy Parvaz. The spokesman called for immediate contact with her, and for her release.
The spokesman made his remarks after Iran said Tuesday it is looking into Parvaz's whereabouts.
Syria said last week it deported Parvaz to Iran after she flew to Damascus on April 29 from Qatar, where al-Jazeera is based. She went to Syria to cover ongoing anti-government uprisings.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday it is "important" to Iran to determine what happened to Parvaz, but he did not confirm that she is being held in Iran.
Parvaz holds Iranian, U.S. and Canadian citizenship.
Mehmanparast confirmed Syrian accounts that Parvaz tried to enter Syria on an expired Iranian passport and planned to work in the country without a press permit. He also said Parvaz was carrying her other passports at the time.
It is not clear which passport Parvaz used on arrival in Syria, or whether she would have broken any rules by using a valid American or Canadian travel document. Iran says it does not recognize dual nationalities claimed by its citizens.
Syria has banned nearly all foreign journalists from working in the country, as it tries to crack down on an anti-government protest movement that erupted nationwide in March.
Al-Jazeera Urges Syria, Iran to Provide Details on Missing Journalist
