Friday, September 26, 2008
We demand for immediate and unconditional release of Emadeddin Baghi!
Emadeddin Baghi is an Iranian journalist, contemporary historian and prolific author who have continually risked his life during the past twenty years campaigning against evil in high places in his country. Recipient of several international awards including Civil Courage Prize in 2004, French Human Rights Prize in 2005, and the International Journalist of the Year 2008 at the British Press Awards. He also founded the Defense of Prisoners' Rights Committee to provide legal assistance to intellectuals imprisoned for promoting pro-democracy ideas and opinions.
He exposed the involvement of the Iranian government in the assassination of Iranian intellectuals and anti-government activists. He has written 20 books, six of which are banned in Iran, as well as many bylined articles in the independent reformist press exposing violations of free expression.
At great personal risk, Emad became the voice for many political dissadents in Iran. He and Akbar Ganji, another reformist journalist, wrote about the murders of 80 secular writers, intellectuals and political activists which took place in the late l990's, pointing out the government's overt involvement. These articles galvanized the public.
Emad Baghi was arrested, put on trial and imprisoned in solitary confinement for apostasy and endangering the security of the Islamic state in 2000. Released in the spring of 2003, he was repeatedly hailed to appear in court and received a one-year suspended sentence.
One of his most recent attempts to promote democratic reform was the founding of Jomhooriyat newspaper early this year. This newspaper contained some special pages on human rights, trade unions and civil institutions, subjects that are not normally covered even in the reformist papers. As a result of this bold attempt to educate the public about democratic ideals, the judiciary of the ruling clerics temporarily banned publication of Jomhooriyat this summer, and Emad Baghi was dismissed as chief editor.
Emadeddin Baghi was arrested on 14 October 2007 after responding to a summons to appear before Branch 14 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. He was questioned about his activities with the Association for the Defence of Prisoners' Rights and accused of revealing classified information and insulting Iran's leaders through criticising the use of the death penalty. His health condition has been deteriorating while in detention; in December, 2007 and May, 2008 he suffered seizure. During the current year he was summoned before the court 55 times. Its worth to note that he wa transferred from solitary confinement to a common prison, and that he must be freed on 28 September, 2008. However, he must make attendance before the court on October 8, 2008 on another case.
We believe that sentencing, imprisoning of Emadeddin Baghi, and ongoing judicial harassment against him are based solely on his work in promotion of democratic values, freedom of expression and human rights.
We call on authorities in Iran to:
Immediately and unconditionally release Emadeddin Baghi and stop any harassment against him as it is believed that he was arrested, sentenced, imprisoned and are being subject to harassment as a result of his peaceful and legitimate activities in the defense of democracy and human rights;
Guarantee Emadeddin Baghi s security and physical and psychological integrity;
Ensure that treatment with him adhere with all those conditions set out in Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners adopted by Un General Assembly resolution 45/11 in 14 December 1990.
link: www.azattyk.org
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
» نظر شما؟