Petition for release of Iranian media detainees

Over 3,500 people including top international journalists, writers and freedom leaders urge Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to release all journalists, writers and bloggers currently imprisoned in Iran.

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression issued a statement yesterday urging Ayatollah Khamenei to secure the release of dozens of imprisoned journalists, writers and bloggers who have been arrested in the past ten months in the course of protests to the outcome of the June presidential elections which protesters claim was rigged in favour of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

CJFE contends that at least 34 journalists are currently in Iranian prisons and 18 more, which have been temporarily released on heavy bails, are expected to return to prison soon.

The petition, which was prepared by a coalition of free expression organizations and signed by 3,500 respected journalists, writers and other individuals such as Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, E. L. Doctorow, Ahmed Rashid and Mario Vargas Llosa, was handed over to the Islamic Republic’s Permanent Mission to the United Nationss in New York.

Annie Game, executive director of CJFE announced: “Our message to the journalists and writers in prison in Iran is that we have not forgotten you. The Iranian authorities should know that the world community of free expression organisations continues to watch them and urges them to end this outrage.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists another organization involved in the initiative contends that “many of the jailed journalists are under immense physical and psychological pressure to confess to crimes they have not committed, including crimes that carry the death penalty.”

Joel Simon, executive director of CPJ said: “We hope those in jail will be heartened by this level of international attention.” He added: “By collecting these names from all corners of the world, we want to convey to our imprisoned colleagues the depth of our concern and to Iranian authorities the depth of our outrage.”

In the past ten months of protests in Iran, over ten publications and newspapers have been banned and 100 journalists have been summoned and arrested by the judiciary.

In Reporters Without Borders eighth annual Press Freedom Index, Iran has been ranked 172 out of 175 countries surveyed.