When an arrest is not an arrest
Updated on 09 February 2009
Lindsey Hilsum spots an obvious contradiction in an Iranian newspaper reporting on the possible arrest of a Swiss diplomat.
As a journalist I know it is sometimes difficult to get the story straight, but the Iran News, one of Tehran's English-language papers, has found a novel way round the problem.
On page 2, under the headline "Iran Denies Arrest of Swiss Diplomat", it reads: "Iranian police department yesterday denies arrest of Swiss diplomat in Tehran. Speaking to the Iranian News Agency, Colonel Mehdi Ahmadi said the Iranian police officially denies such baseless reports."
The reader is then referred to a story on page 15, which carries the unequivocal headline: "Swiss Diplomat Arrested."
The article explains in some detail that the diplomat was arrested in his car, that the police spotted him having an "indecent relation" with an Iranian woman, and that he was later released.
It's an intriguing story, especially as the unnamed diplomat (according to page 15) was the unfortunate Swiss gentleman who represents the US interest section in the Swiss Embassy, the Great Satan's only official presence in Iran. One suspects a political motive.
Not that he was arrested, of course. At least, not if you read page 2.
