This is good. We are slowly turning up the pressure on Iran.
The start of our blockade looms ever closer...
Posted on 08/10/2005 1:20:23 AM PDT by F14 Pilot
Washington, Aug 10 (DPA) The US has called for the release of Iranian dissident journalist Akbar Ganji, whose health has deteriorated severely during his eight-week-old hunger strike.
"Akbar Ganji is still in jail and he shouldn't be in jail, and it's wrong, and the time is long overdue to release this valiant defender of human rights and fundamental freedoms," US state department spokesman Adam Ereli said.
Ereli could not confirm reports that Ganji ended his hunger strike. The US has regularly called for his release and says his detention demonstrates Iran's lack of commitment to human rights.
"It's telling what kind of regime we're dealing with when somebody of Akbar Ganji's stature and integrity continues to be not only kept in prison, but subjected to such inhumane treatment," Ereli said.
"He's sick," Ereli added. "He's not getting adequate medical attention. And he's suffering greatly under very difficult conditions entirely inappropriate to his status and to what he's accused of, which he shouldn't be in jail for anyway."
Ereli's comments come amid concerns of Iran's nuclear activities, which President George W. Bush said Tuesday were "deeply suspicious". In another accusation, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Iran was allowing weapons to flow into Iraq and into the hands of insurgents.
Ganji is demanding his unconditional release before his six-year jail term ends next year, but Iran's judiciary is requiring he first sign a petition of amnesty, which the dissident has so far rejected.
One of the charges against Ganji, 48, was that he linked Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, the head of Iran's Expediency Council, to the 1998 assassination of dissidents.
He is also charged with "disgracing" Iran in front of "counter-revolutionaries" at a controversial Berlin conference in 2000.
Ganji's Ping!
This is good. We are slowly turning up the pressure on Iran.
The start of our blockade looms ever closer...
That is really good news!
I've emailing the white house--Demand Ganji be released.
BUMP!
bump.
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