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RAPID ACTION NETWORK
13 June 2005
Update #2 to RAN 25/05
IRAN: Dissident journalist Akbar Ganji returned to prison; said to be
held in solitary confinement and to have started a hunger stike.
International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee has received
confirmation that missing dissident journalist Akbar Ganji returned to
Tehran's Evin prison on 11 June 2005 after being released on 29 May 2005
on medical leave. He is believed to be held in solitary confinement
without access to family visits and to be on hunger strike.
International PEN is calling for his immediate and unconditional
release, and seeks immediate assurances that he is treated humanely in
detention and granted full access to family visits and all necessary
medical care.
The following report is from the BBC world news website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/4083890.stm
Iran journalist returns to prison
Dissident Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji has returned to prison after
going missing for three days. He told reporters as he entered Tehran's
Evin prison that he would resume his hunger strike.
Mr Ganji was given temporary medical leave from jail at the end of last
month; the authorities said he should have returned to prison on
Wednesday. He was jailed in 2001 for linking some senior figures in Iran
to killings of political dissidents in the 1990s.
Mr Ganji returned to the prison alone on Saturday, carrying a hold-all
and a bag of medicines, Reuters news agency reported.
"Now that I have gone back to prison, I will resume my hunger strike,"
he said. "All political prisoners must be freed."
He was granted temporary home leave on 29 May to have medical checks for
asthma and back pain after going on hunger strike in protest at his lack
of treatment.
Outspoken criticism
He disappeared on Tuesday evening, after going out with friends. That
same night, during his absence, judiciary officials arrived at his house
with a warrant to return him to prison.
Tehran's hardline chief prosecutor said he had evaded arrest and was on
the run.
In a letter distributed to the media through his wife on Friday, Mr
Ganji denied he had gone into hiding or had done anything wrong.
He accused the Iranian authorities of not keeping their word, and
turning down an extension to his home leave.
Mr Ganji suggested the reason they had tried to re-imprison him was
because he had spoken to the press after his release.
Upon leaving prison, Mr Ganji was extremely outspoken in his criticism
of Iran's clerical system of government.
He said that voting in next week's presidential elections would help
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei legitimise what he
described as his personal dictatorship.
Please send appeals:
- Expressing serious concern about the detention of Akbar Ganji
and calling for his immediate release;
- seeking assurances that he is being treated humanely and granted
access to family visits and medical care.
Appeals to:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 216495880
President
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam val Moslemin Sayed Mohammad Khatami
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email:
khatami@president.ir |