The Latest from Iran (27 December): Threats
2115 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch (German Edition): Confusion tonight over the situation with detained German journalists Marcus Hellwig and Jens Koch....
Earlier this month, Iranian authorities had said they hoped it would be possible for the Germans to meet their families for the New Year.
Today the German Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Iran's Ambassador to Germany, Ali-Reza Sheikh-Attar, over the refusal to allow that visit.
Iranian authorities countered that they had extended the offer of a visit early on Monday but the families of the detainees have refused to travel to Tabriz, where the two are being held. The Iranians also deny that their ambassador in Germany was summoned, saying it was a pre-arranged meeting on other matters.
Hellwig and Koch were arrested in October as they interviewed and photographed the son and lawyer of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, condemned to death for adultery and complicity in murder.
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