Iran Confirms Arrest of British-Iranian Professor on ‘Security Charges’

WORRYING

Updated Apr. 29, 2018 9:50AM EDT / Published Apr. 29, 2018 9:46AM EDT

Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters

Iranian authorities on Sunday confirmed they are holding a British-Iranian professor on undisclosed security charges, the latest in a spate of arrests that human rights groups say represent an alarming trend. Abbas Edalat, a professor of computer science at Imperial College in London, was reportedly arrested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in mid-April while visiting the country for academic purposes. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi told reporters in Tehran on Sunday that Edalat was in custody but “I am unable to give details.” The news comes after Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on Wednesday it was “urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities” on Edalat’s whereabouts. The dual British-Iranian citizen is one of at least four British-Iranian nationals being held in the Islamic Republic, where the Revolutionary Guards have arrested at least 30 dual nationals since 2015 on what are widely believed to be fabricated charges.

Read it at Reuters

Hackers Steal Large Sum From Anti-Trump Super PAC

The Lincoln Project said hackers set their eyes on a committee vendor, “producing authentic-looking invoices”

Kanye West Wants to Open a Porn Studio: Report

A rep for the embattled artist told TMZ that he’s in “advanced talks” to set up the project as part of his Yeezy company.

Several Crew Injured in Crash on Set of Eddie Murphy Film

Eddie Murphy and the film’s other stars, Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson, weren’t on the set at the time.

‘Giant’ Coyote Spotted Prowling Central Park Spooks Joggers

Brett Cohn said the animal stopped him “in his tracks” on Saturday morning.

Black British ‘Homeland’ Actor Clarifies Blackface Comments

David Harewood initially said actors should be able to play any character, even in blackface, as long as it’s “good.”

Scholz to Putin: Keep Kant’s Name Out of Your Mouth

Olaf Scholz says the Russian president doesn’t have the “slightest right” to cite Imannuel Kant.

Marathoner Sips Glass of Wine at Every Mile, Still Finishes

He blindly taste-tested each glass and correctly identified 21 of them.

India’s Modi Slammed for Calling Muslims ‘Infiltrators’

His campaign speech was seen as an ominous warning for India’s religious minorities if he wins a third term this year.

Iran Confirms Arrest of British-Iranian Professor on ‘Security Charges’

Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters