September. Reuters’ Tehran bureau chief Parisa Hafezi (photo) has already appeared before prosecutors twice to answer the charges. At issue is a video story about female martial arts students, who call themselves ninjas. Someone in London tacked on a title about Iranians training as “assassins” although the video story never used that term or even suggested they were training for such a purpose. Reuters has apologized and pulled the story. But the ninjas are suing Reuters and the Culture Ministry is saying the trial could end with Reuters permanently banned from Iran. The agency is currently suspended and is doing most of its reporting by phone from its office in Dubai.
