Posted on 07/14/2005 7:14:10 PM PDT by Khashayar
IRAN Imprisoned Journalist Akbar Ganji / Concern Over Brutality Towards Peaceful Protestors / Importance of Freedom of the Press
QUESTION: Can I ask you about the case of Ganji, the journalist who's jailed in Iran? My question is, the Bush Administration has made clear that they want him released and also has urged human rights group, the United Nations, to try and sort of pressure on the case. Given all that's happened in the United States about journalism and the journalist who has been jailed, does that kind of diminish your chances of persuading other people to do it? It's what they call the copper calling the kettle black.
MR. CASEY: Well, first of all, let me just talk about that case, specific case, and then we can talk about some of the other issues you've raised. The White House, I think most of you have seen, did put out a statement on Tuesday that noted our concerns about the continued imprisonment of Akbar Ganji, who's a prominent Iranian political prisoner and newspaper editor. He's been engaged in a hunger strike for the past month.
The President called for Mr. Ganji's immediate and unconditional release and urged all supporters of human rights and freedom and the United Nations to take up this case.
I do want to add, too, that we're disturbed by reports of police brutality against peaceful protestors who were demonstrating in Tehran on Tuesday to call attention to Mr. Ganji's case and we call on the Iranian regime to exercise restraint and to permit the Iranian people to exercise their legitimate right to peaceful assembly and to free speech.
In terms of the other part of your question, I do think that in terms of press freedom, I'd put the United States record up against any other country's. We have a long tradition here of a free and open press, a free and open society, and it is unfortunate that in many countries of the world, particularly in the case we're dealing with here in Iran, that journalists continue to be imprisoned simply for trying to inform people, for trying to report on the stories that are there, and for trying to help them be able to participate in the life of their -- political life of their country.
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MORNING BUMP!!!!
Ganji is Iran's patrick Henry!
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