Posted on 09/18/2005 6:39:57 AM PDT by F14 Pilot
The following statement was issued today by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo:
"I wish to express again my deepest concern regarding the situation of journalist and writer Akbar Ganji whom I met on 8 November 2003 at the Evin prison, while visiting the Islamic Republic of Iran in my official capacity as Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. On that occasion, relevant Iranian authorities informed me that they were considering the possibility of releasing Mr. Ganji.
I also wish to remind the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran that, since Mr. Ganji's arrest in 2000, the Special Procedures mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights have often appealed the Iranian authorities to review Mr. Ganji's situation, as well as the situation of other intellectuals and journalists imprisoned for press and opinion-related offences. Most recently, on 15 July 2005, together with other four experts of the Commission on Human Rights, I issued a statement expressing alarm for Mr. Ganji's health conditions.
I understand that, after a few weeks in a hospital under police surveillance, Mr.Ganji has been imprisoned again in spite of his poor health. Therefore, I call on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to grant him an unconditional amnesty on humanitarian grounds and to release him without further delay."
ping!
http://www.petitiononline.com/Ganji/petition.html
Sign The Petition Please!
Radio Farda is reporting that it's been 20 days with no news about Ganji
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.