2010: Iran: 60 writers, journalists detained
February 15., 2010
15
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency,
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Your Excellencies
As a member of Norwegian and Danish PEN I have learned that His Excellency Ayatollah Khomenei in 1979, during the Iranian revolution, made a pledge to protect freedom of expression and the press which he called «Our Society Will Be a Free Society».
In light of His Excellency’s pledge I am therefore alarmed by the news that at least 60 people, writers, journalists and bloggers are detained in violation of the protections guaranteed in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s constitution and in international law.
I therefore implore you to seek immediate and unconditional release of all writers, journalists, bloggers who are currently detained in Iran in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.
Sincerely
Gitte Mose
Member of Danish and Norwegian PEN and its Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC)
