2009: Iran: Roxana Saberi
April 22nd 2009
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei
Tehran
Your Excellency
Norwegian PEN and its Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) are seriously concerned about the new regarding the eight year prison sentence handed down to Iranian-American journalist and writer Roxana Saberi.
Norwegian PEN seeks information on the gronds for the charges against her. Norwegian PEN fears that she may be held solely for the peaceful exercise of her right to free expression, and therefore in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. If so, we call for her immediate and unconditional release.
During the trial against her no information on the evidence of the charge of “espionage” has been made public.
We would like to urge Your Excellency to look into the case and make sure that Roxana Saberi is given the opportunity to exercise all legal rights and that the prosecutor will reconsider the case quickly and fairly.
Thank you for your attention and for listening to this urgent appeal.
Yours sincerely
Aase Gjerdrum
Member of WiPC, Norwegian PEN
