The International Women’s Media Foundation condemns the arrest of some 24 journalists and bloggers in Iran during post-election protests. Among those arrested was 2009 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner Jila Baniyaghoob, a freelance reporter and editor-in-chief of Kanoon Zanan Irani (Focus on Iranian Women). Baniyaghoob was arrested along with her husband, journalist Bahaman Ahamadi Amoee. According to reports, the journalists are being held in the security section of Tehran’s Evin prison.
“At this crucial time in the history of Iran, the government of Iran is trying to silence the voices of journalists, the people who are telling the world the story of what is happening on the ground,” said Liza Gross, IWMF interim executive director. “We ask supporters of a worldwide free press to join us in calling for their release. The story of what is happening in Iran today has gathered its own momentum and the world is watching and listening. Attempts to silence journalists will not stop events from unfolding – nor will it stop journalists from reporting the story. We call on the government of Iran to respect press freedom and release all journalists.”
The IWMF also began a petition on its website calling for the release of all journalists in Iran, those arrested during the post-election protests, and those already in prison. According to Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, prior to the recent wave of arrests, 12 journalists and cyber-dissidents were in Iranian jails, the highest number of any country in the Middle East. Recent arrests bring that number to 36.