News

The German Foreign Ministry said Sunday that the families of two German journalists detained in Iran have been denied Christmas visits with their relatives.

"Despite several affirmations by Iran, it was not possible for them to meet during the Christmas period," a spokesman said.

The two unnamed journalists, a reporter and a photographer, work for the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. They were arrested October 10 as they traveled to Iran to interview the son and lawyer of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the 43-year-old woman whose death sentence by stoning for adultery and murder has gained international attention.

Iranian officials say the two men entered the country on tourist visas and did not have the proper accreditation to work as journalists while in the country.

It was originally reported that the two had also been charged with espionage, but Iran has said that is not the case.