Petition to Khamenei: Iran Must Release Detained Reporters
2010/04/07
Published on the website of public service radio channel “Deutschlandradio” on 7. April 2010
Source (German): http://www.dradio.de/kulturnachrichten/2010040718/9/
English translation by @germantoenglish
The petition to the spiritual leader of Iran was signed by writers and journalists from all around the world. They appeal to Ayatollah Khamenei for the release of detained reporters and bloggers. In a statement published on the internet, the “Committee for the Protection of Journalists” writes that 3,500 people have signed the petition, among them Margaret Atwood, Jonathan Franzen, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Nadine Gordimer. According to information provided by the Committee, they have hopes that an international awareness for their fate will help to encourage those detainees. 34 journalists are said to be currently imprisoned in Iran, 18 more journalists are bound to return to prison after the [Iranian] New Year holidays.