Thursday Dec. 1, 2005
gooya news online reporting from Radio Farda:

Minister of guidance thinking to control the media or........
Mr. Mohammad hosain Safar Harandi the minister of culture and islamic gidance in a letter to cabinet ministers , demanded from them that; from now on all their government advertisement to the media must go through the ministry of gidance.
According to the reporter from Radio Farda , in this letter which was sent to the ministry of petrolume, ministry of agriculture , ministry of energy &mining industry state that ;by virtue of section 5 of article 2 of the law , the goal and mission of the ministry of guidance ratified on March 1986 , control, distribution and publication of all kind of government advertisement and its execution inside and outside the country is the duty of this ministry.
The minister of guidance demanded from the ministers to give order to their units to follow the
law and stop sending their government advertisement directly to the media.
................According to the reporter some of these ministries even cancelled their agreed future media advertisement with newspapers.......... A media expert believe that the minister is trying to control finances of the newspapers.....most specially the newspapers that are critical to the government........So by this law the pulse of the media will be in the hand of ministery of guidance.... and the ministry by sending the ads to desirable newspapers will bring fiancial difficulties to newspapers that are critical to government........but also in the past the ministries were sending their ads to newspapers inorder to stop their journalists running after their corrupt ministries................

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/040249.php

Wednesday Nov. 30, 2005
Gooya news online reporting from Persian Voice of Radio Germany ( DW ) :

The radio had an interview with Masumeh Shafiei ( wife of Akbar Ganji ) , in the interview she said :
I think something might have happened that they have cancelled our visiting with Ganji !

It is now 85 days that Akbar Ganji the journalist and writer critical to Islamic Republic of Iran, is in solitary confinement in prison.......the first time she sent a complaint to judiciary power against Tehrans public prosecutor was when ganji was beaten while in Milad hospital , now for the 2nd time again she has sent a complaint against the team of public prosecutor for banning her visit to her husband..........The last time i visited him was 10 days ago, his physical condition was still not good, he was like skin , bone and skeleton , his blood pressure was low and his body was cold, he is being kept in a solitary confinement.... the place is cold and he is not being looked by medical team and not feed well,he does not have any visitation, even this last 3-4 days when they told us that we can visit him , we went to the prison , they kept us for one hour and then they told us we can't visit him, so we think that something might have happened that they cancelled our visitation........last time when he came to a short leave from prison was 6 months ago.......during this 6 months he have only seen his lawyer for once.......the children are very disappointed.....Ganjis mom is worried.....i hope this situation will end so that he can come home for treatment...... It is now 2 month have left to the end of his 6 years sentence...........When Ganji was in the hospital they have threatened him that : "You can not scape alive from our hands, we will kill you anyway, now either we will do it ourselves or our friends outside the prison , same thing we did with Saeed Hajarian( they assassinated him, but he survived ) ." ........ we have sent our complaint to the head of judiciary power ( Mr. Shahrudi) but up to now no response from him......... legaly Ganjis sentencing will end until the end of current Iranian year ( 3rd week of March) , this means that he must be released from prison......Last time Mr. Mortazavi the public prosecutor have said that his prison term will end on the first day of Iranian new year ( March 21st , 2006) , this is what he have said..............Mr. Mortazavi have also said that this is the policy of the system that you will remain in prison unless you take back what you have said , we will keep you in prison with another charges even if your prison term will end.................

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/040160.php

Tuesday Nov. 29,2005
Gooya news online reporting from Iran:

Watch students rallies through the lense of camera:

Link to the pictures:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/040097.php


IRAN WATCH CANADA

Tuesday Nov. 29,2005

Gooya news online reporting from "ISNA" (Iran Students News Agency) :

"Mojtaba Saminejad" the imprisoned blogger was previousely sentenced to two years imprisonment.His lawyer appealed the sentencing from the appeal court, but the sentencing was reinstated. Mr. Seifzadeh the lawyer of Mojtaba Saminejad said : " Some time ago, his client was charged for insulting the officials and recieved two years prison sentence, we appealed to this ruling ,but unfortuanately the decision was reinstated by the appeal court.
End/

Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/040113.php

Monday Nov. 28,2005
News updates-
Gooya news online reporting from Iran:

Letter from Mr. Masud Bastani the journalist from prison!

The letter :

" It's now 100 days that i'm in " Arak" prison and my only sin is because i worked for media and i was the editor of a weeky publication ( Nedaye Eslahat) . In this prison I am exposed to different type of disease such as hepatitis and Aids and i'm in prison because according to the prosecutor of the city of "Arak " i still support for the freedom of Akbar Ganji, Naser Zarafshan and other political-media prisoners. I have spent 100 days in prison and the effort by my family and lawyer, all the complainant have already withdrawn their complaint against me and therefore there is no reason to keep me in prison................ I have been banned not to use pen and paper and not to write for 5 years.......my only crime is because i critically supported the reform , supported human rights activists and worked for the rights of political and media prisoners ...........I and other 33 prisoners are still in prison ...........


Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA

Link to this news in Farsi:
http://mag.gooya.com/politics/archives/040142.php

Students protest against new appointed president of Tehran University. Kurdish students rallied for human rights in Kurdistan provinces and also students of another university called for the release of Akbar Ganji.

Monday Nov. 28,2005
Gooya news online reporting from Iran:
Student protest intensified in Iran !
Yesterday, University of Tehran witnessed an intesified student protest. the student protested because, Ahmadinejad government replaced Dr. Faraji the president of Tehran University with ayatollah Amid Zanjani. During his oath of office the students started their protest.by protesting They wanted to show their support for Dr. Faraji and their dislike of the ayatollah who apparently doesn't have any degree from university.The students were chanting slogans like: " The students demand; the university be an independant institute" or " this nomination is an insult to university intelectuals" and " We dont want an appointed president" and also They started to sing the national songs like " Eiy Iran" and " Yare Dabestani " .
The students protest in Tehran University did not end until the new president ( the Ayatollah ) and his body guards were forced to leave the campus. In rushing to leave , ayatollahs turban fell to the groung and once ayatollah left the campus , students closed the gate and continued their slogan.
Kurdish students also started their protest by gathering in front of the literature college of Tehran University in protest to the violation of human rights in Kurdish province by the regime and particularly killing Mr. Shirkoh Amini in the city of Mahabad and murdering religious activists in the city of Kermanshah and giving heavy sentences to labour activists.

The students of ecnomic college from "Allameh University" also started their protest for" right to work ".

In another news on Sunday Nov. 27, 2005 the students from " Poly Technic " Unviversity staged a rally in protest to the worsening physical situation of Akbar Ganji and to the violation of basic rights in prisons. More than 1500 students participated in this rally.

End/
Translated by the IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to these news in Farsi:
http://mag.gooya.com/politics/archives/040071.php

http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/040097.php#more

Sunday Nov. 27,2005
rooz online reporting:

More than 182 lawyer in Iran wrote a letter to the Head of judiciary power and demanded : Free Mr. Abdolfatah Soltani !

Mr. soltani, is in prison for almost 4 months, he is been there without enough reason and acceptable documents , out of this 4 months, he spent 42 days in solitary confinement and the rest of the time was similar to solitary confinement, the only difference was that there was another person with him.
Mr. Soltani is a lawyer and is the board member of the Association of Lawyer in Iran.
The 182 lawyers in their letter to Mr. Hashemi Shahrudi the head of Irans judiciary power, demanded for immediate release of Mr. Abdolfatah Soltani.

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news/more/5462/

Saturday Nov. 26,2005
Rooz online - Sajad Salek wrote an article with a title which reads:

Television yes, media no!

In his article Mr. Salek talks about the new way of presidents communication with people in Iran. the president rather now prefare to record a 45 min. video film by speaking to a camera in a private room than to come out and speak directly with journalists and media . The president find this way much easier than answering to the questions of journalists in a press conference or wherever he is.
Nowadays journalists are also banned to get closer to president and sometimes journalists are being pushed away by presidents security team.
The presidents interview was prerecorded and then was sent on air on the Islamic Republic channels . During the recording Mr. Ahmadinejad never was asked critical questions and it was more of an add. , like an add during his candidacy , he was talking about the first three months of him being in the office and what he has done, and was talking that; only two months and 26 days have past since he filled the office.
Beside this, in the past weeks several journalists have been called to attend to the ministry of gidance for a meeting of what to write and what to avoid to write and this situation was understood by the media and journalists as a warning.
So, it seems that the situation is gradually geting harsher for journalists to ask question from president in a press conference.
And communication with president only take place through a prerecorded video film.

IRAN WATCH CANADA

Link to this news in persian from rooz online:
http://roozonline.com/01newsstory/012004.shtml

Friday Nov. 25, 2005
Brief message from IRAN WATCH CANADA to its readers:
I dont know why but something is slowing down this site ( It's been for two weeks now ) , although IRAN WATCH CANADA is eager to bring more news to you on daily bases. IWC hopes the problem will soon fade away.

*********
News Updates:
Iran-emrooz news online reporting from " Mizan" news (Mn):

Ganji is still in solitary confinement!

Mizan news interview with Masumeh Shafiei ( Akbar ganji's wife):

Mn : Last week you had your latest meeting with Ganji , how was his situation?

Shafiei: Very bad , long beard, had disevelled hair and 50 kg. weight with a cold body and hand, his blood pressure was also low and the meeting took place in praying place of the management building.There was no other physical pressure on him but he is still in solitary confinement, and the time of visitation that they give us is on holidays that everywhere is empty of people so that no one can see him , they bring and take him back with ambulance . ............
Mr. Mortazavi the public prosecutor two years ago have said that : You will remain in prison until you will take back what you have said.

Mn: Do you think they have personal enmity towards him?

Shafiei: Exactly, otherwise there are other people who have said the same thing as Ganji said but they only deal differently with Ganji.

Mn : how much is this personal enmity?

Shafiei: Mr. Mortazavi certainly has personal enmity with Ganji, but there are other people in higher ranking who have personal enmity with Ganji ............

Mn: While in hospital Ganji continued his hunger strike for several weeks and the public believed that he was going to get the result soon but then he ended his strike , why?

Shafiei: According to the doctors in the hospital , three times Ganji came close to death, once he lost his conscience and his pulse and heart beat was as low as losing the life , another time all his hand veins were on each other and blood circulation was stoped and the doctors were trying to amputate his wrist but fortunately by injecting serum to him this danger passed away , the last one was when his blood became infected and even the doctors lost hope on him, because his white blood cell came down and he was brought to ICU and by his larger blood cell they injected him with serum and by doing this his strike was ended........

Mn: In recent weeks Ganji has won many international freedom of expression awards , will this effect his situation?

Shafiei: I think the international actions have great impact on his situation, the experience shows that; whenever there are international or even internal pressure there are some changes in his situation. ..............
End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/5426/

Human Rights Watch Honors Global Rights Defenders
26 Oct 2005 21:00:52 GMTSource: Human Rights Watch

(New York, October 26, 2005) - Human Rights Watch's highest honor in 2005, the Human Rights Defender Award, will go to three courageous human rights activists from around the globe whose efforts illustrate major human rights challenges in the world today. The three honorees for this year illustrate the limits of freedom of expression in the Middle East, the massive "ethnic cleansing" and injustice in Darfur, Sudan, and the plight of HIV/AIDS affected women in Africa.
Human Rights Watch's global rights defender awardees for 2005 are:
, a journalist and web-blogger from Iran,
Salih Mahmoud Osman, a lawyer and human rights activist from Darfur, and
HYPERLINK "http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/10/25/uganda11920.htm"Beatrice Were, an advocate for the rights of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Uganda.
All three of this year's honorees send a powerful message to governments that serious human right violations must end," said Roth. "They are an inspiration to all of us."
Background on the 2005 Human Rights Watch Honorees:
Beatrice Were, Uganda Beatrice Were is a leading Ugandan advocate for the rights of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. One of the first Ugandan women to openly declare her HIV status, Were founded a grass-roots support organization, the National Community of Women Living with AIDS. After she lost her husband to HIV/AIDS in 1991, Were gained first-hand knowledge of the problems of a widow living with AIDS. Having almost lost her property and children to her husband's family, she became an activist to prevent other women suffering from this fate. Were also established the Memory Book project to help mothers with AIDS prepare their children for orphan-hood by recording family memories and talking openly about their HIV status. Were is a strong critic of U.S.-funded "abstinence-until-marriage" programs which censor factual and sexually explicit HIV/AIDS information for young people.
Omid Memarian belongs to a new generation of human rights activists who creatively challenge political repression through the internet. He is a journalist, a web-blogger, and a civil society activist who has pushed the limits of freedom of expression in Iran by using the internet, and who has been persecuted for his efforts. Memarian worked as a journalist in Iran for reformist newspapers until the Iranian government shut down these papers. He was arrested because of his defense of human rights in October 2004 and put in solitary confinement where he was tortured repeatedly and forced to make false confessions. Following protests from the international community, including Human Rights Watch, Memarian was released in December 2004. Memarian has worked with Human Rights Watch online to expose arbitrary detentions, torture and mistreatment of prisoners in Iran.
Salih Mahmoud Osman, Sudan Salih Mahmoud Osman is a Darfur-based lawyer who works with the Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT) to contest torture and arbitrary detention. For twenty years he has defended and given free legal aid to Sudanese of all ethnicities and political stances, including those who have been persecuted by the government. Osman was arrested and detained without charge or trial for seven months in 2004 by Sudanese security forces. He was released after going on a hunger strike. Osman continues to defend civil and political rights in Darfur and Khartoum, Sudan. In investigating ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in Darfur, Human Rights Watch worked closely with Osman, who took on this work at great personal risk to himself and his family.
Omid Memarian was honored in Toronto by Human Rights Watch Toronto

Wednesday Nov. 23,2005

News in brief
gooya news online reporting from "ISNA" :

Summoning of a Kurdish journalist !
Ms. "Soraiya Azizpanah" the managing official of " Rasan " publication, has been summoned to the public prosecutors office in the city of Marivan.
She was charged for " publishing lies" . Ms. Soraiya who is a member of the "Association in Support of Children Rights " in this regard have told to reporter from ISNA that : Tomorrow ( Thursday ) I have to be in division number one of the public prosecutors office in the city of Marivan.
About the charges she added : A short while ago a news was published in " Rasan " publication (which is a Kurdish women publication) that a woman have been killed by her husband,then the brother of the accused brought a complaint against the publication , infact the complainant of this case is a private complainant. She said in dealing with this file there are signes of legal problems.

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/5401/

Other news from Ifex link:

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

11. IRANIAN JOURNALIST AWARDED GOLDEN PEN OF FREEDOM

The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has awarded the 2006 Golden Pen of Freedom prize to jailed Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji and called for his immediate release. Ganji is serving the fourth year of a six-year sentence and has reportedly been tortured.

The Golden Pen award, which will be presented on 5 June 2006 at the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Moscow, Russia, recognises Ganji's "outstanding defence and promotion of press freedom."

Ganji was arrested in April 2000 following his participation in a Berlin conference which discussed political and social reform in Iran. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2001 for "insulting religious edicts and figures, threatening national security and dissemination of propaganda against the Islamic system." Ganji is the author of the book "Dungeon of Ghosts," which implicates former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and other leading conservative figures in the murders of five writers and intel
lectuals in 1998.

Ganji has gone on two long hunger strikes during his prison term, including a two-month stint that ended in early September. He was discharged from hospital and moved to the notorious Evin prison, where he is being kept in solitary confinement.

Previous winners of the Golden Pen of Freedom award include Argentine journalist Jacobo Timerman, Zimbabwean journalist Geoffrey Nyarota and Sudanese editor Mahjoub Mohamed Salih.

Visit these links:
- WAN: http://www.wan-press.org/article8619.html
- Golden Pen of Freedom Laureates: http://www.wan-press.org/article4489.html
- Send a Protest Letter to Support Ganji:
http://www.pencanada.ca/media/RAN11Nov05-Iran.pdf
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15632- Iran Watch Canada: http://www.moriab.blogspot.com/

End/

Tuesday Nov. 22,2005

Gooya news online reporting from "Tabriz" news:
www.tabriznews.com
pakmehr88@hotmail.com
Tel:0098 914 415 7400

Mr. "Madeh Ahmadi" , The Kurdish journalist sewed his mouth in Marivan prison !

Mr. Madeh Ahmadi, the imprisoned Kurdish journalist ,after hunger strike in Marivan prison sewed his mouth.
Mr. Ahmadi is a journalist from the city of Sanandaj, who was arrested during the unrest in
Kurdistan for the past months and was brought to Marivan prison. Mr. Ahmadi sewed his mouth while in prison in protest to the judiciary decision for not wanting to release him on bail.One of his relative in speaking with Peyman Pakmehr the reporter from Tabriz news said that his physical situation is very dangerous.

End/
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/039717.php

Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA

Saturday Nov. 19, 2005

Stephan Hachemi as an ambassador for youth in the event called " Youth for Human Rights Canada" in Toronto city hall.








IRAN WATCH CANADA

Saturday Nov. 19,2005

Picture shows Stephan Hachemi with camera.

Stephan Hachemi( Zahra Kazemis' son ) : In an event in Toronto as an ambassador for youth attacked Islamic Republics' Kangaroo court .

Today in an event called " Youth for Human Rights Canada" which was taken place in the city hall - Toronto from 11:00am - 5:00pm , Stephan Hachemi the son of Canadian - Iranian born photo-journalist Zahra (Ziba) Kazemi who was brutally killed in Evin prison in the hands of Iranian officials( prison officials& judiciary officials) was invited as an ambassador for youth and during his speech and slid show( photo's taken by his mom from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran ) was displayed . Stephan in his speech attacked Islamic Republic for not leting her mom's body to be exhumed and brought to canada and the kangaroo court of the Islamic Republic . He also criticized Paul Martin's Government for prioritizing economic interest over justice on her mom's case. Stephan in this event also acted as cameraman and filmed the participants in this event.

End/

IRAN WATCH CANADA

Thursday Nov. 17,2005

Today Journalists in Exile ( JEX ) were at CBC Metro Morning show with Andy Barrie. Thanks to Andy and his crew + CBC for the show.For listening please click here.


http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/


Welcome to Metro MorningToronto's #1 Morning Radio Program
November 17, 2005
Exiled Journalists
Andy Barrie spoke with Morteza Abdolalian, Aaron Berhane and Tillai Nathan (pseudonym for security reasons).Morteza Abdolalian, Aaron Berhane, Tillai Nathan. (Runs 10:14)

Thursday Nov. 17, 2005
iran-emrooz online reporting from "ISNA" :
The "Association of Syndicate Photo-journalists of Iran" in a statement protested to the beating and assulting of one of their own by the security forces in Iran!
ISNA reported that; In a soccer play off between "Piruzi" and "Malavan" in freedom stadium, Mr. "Heshmattolah Bahadori" the photo-journalist of "Piruzi" sports newspaper who was just doing his professional job was attacked by the security forces .
The Association believes that security forces instead of protecting the photo-journalists they beat them . The association while condemning this act , is demanding for a ful investigation of the matter.
* " Edare Amaken" is one of several security offices in Iran.

End/
Translated by the IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/5295/

Tuesday Nov. 15/2005
Rooz online reports:
Interrogation of several blogger !
Preparation of "Television show " in the " Edare Amaken"*

Several blogger and journalists have been brought to " Edare Amaken" are under iterrogation and pressure in order to participate in a television show to disclose a plan called " The plan for inefficiency of Ahmadinejad ".
According to the report from the reporter of "Rooz" , these people have been summoned since two days ago and interrogation from them have been started. The interrogations is taken place under watchfull eyes of " Payam Fazlinejad" and conducted by " Fallah" .
From the begining of the activity of " Edare Amaken " as the centre of " Parallel Information Agency " this person was in charge of the interrogation of journalists, intellectuals and bloggers under alias's of " Mahdavi" and " Bagheri" .
The intriguing for the arrest and interrogation of bloggers started from a report in the site of " Farda" , the site wrote : " sources close to president say that , a committee of opposition to Ahmadinejad have been formed and their goal is to help the government to fall.....and some of the news sites inside and outside the country are also being used as tools for this committee......soon part of this plan which has been financed by foreigners will be disclosed ". The report goes on and it says from the source of the news that: " This committee is trying by the use of widespread propaganda and psychological war to show that the government is inefficient and to make the public minds and even special people pessimistic towards the government". He ( The source ) then said :" the members of this committee in their last session annonced about their final mission and that is plan for political inefficiency of president and they have prepared program to fulfill their goal ." At the end of the news in the same site we read that : " This source did not provide any documents for his allegation , but said that soon we will inform you about this issue".
There are speculation that; Ahmadinejad government is planning to bring fear among bloggers, journalists and writers .... and is trying by interrogation and pressure on imprisoned bloggers and journalists to make a video show and in that show the bloggers will reveal about a plan and threfore to prepare a situation to arrest and detain bloggers and journalists who are not in prison and or to " Filter " the sites that are active and or say that these bloggers and journalists are geting money from foreign countries.

* " Edare Amaken" : Is one of the several security office in Iran
End/

Translated by the IRAN WATCH CANADA the voice of voiceless .
Link to this news in Farsi:

Original Message -----
From: Larry Kilman
To: outreach@ifex.org
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 10:06 PM
Subject: Press release - WAN/Golden Pen winner
Copenhagen, Denmark, 15 November 2005
For immediate release

Jailed Iranian Journalist Wins WAN Golden Pen of Freedom Award

Akbar Ganji, a leading investigative journalist who is now one of Iran's most renowned political prisoners, has been awarded the 2006 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers.
Mr Ganji, who is serving the fourth year of a six-year prison sentence, is the author of the book "Dungeon of Ghosts," in which he implicates the former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and other leading conservative figures in the murders of five writers and intellectuals in 1998. The book is said to have been a major factor in the conservative defeat in parliamentary elections of February 2000.

Mr Ganji has reportedly been tortured in prison and has gone on two long hunger strikes. He has defiantly refused to renounce his critique of the state, even if it could win his release. In a letter recently smuggled out of prison, he wrote: "Let it be known that if learning my lesson is to denounce my previous opinions, Ganji will never learn his lesson."

Mr Ganji was arrested in April 2000 following his participation in a Berlin conference in which political and social reform in Iran were publicly debated. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2001 for "insulting religious edicts and figures, threatening national security and dissemination of propaganda against the Islamic system."

The Golden Pen award, which will be presented on Monday, 5 June, 2006, at the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Moscow, Russia, recognises Mr Ganji's outstanding defence and promotion of press freedom.

"Akbar Ganji fights for freedom of expression in Iran but his efforts are watched around the globe," said the Board of the Paris-based WAN, meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. "His remarkable resistance to repression and his steadfast refusal to be silenced, at great personal cost, is an inspiration to journalists everywhere. It is through courageous journalists who do not capitulate -- even in the face of long prison terms and even death -- that freedom advances."

The Board called for his immediate release.

Mr Ganji was originally sentenced to ten years in prison plus five years of internal exile, but the sentence was reduced to six months imprisonment on appeal. The Supreme Court, however, overturned the appellate court's decision and referred the case to a different appeals court, which sentenced him to six years in prison.

On 19 May 2005, Mr Ganji began a hunger strike that lasted for almost three months. He was granted prison leave for medical treatment at the end of May and used the opportunity to call for a boycott of the 17 June presidential election. He resumed his hunger strike for two months when he returned to prison, ending up in hospital due to malnutrition and poor health. He had lost more than 25 kilogrammes.

He ended the hunger strike and on 3 September, was discharged from hospital and returned to prison, where he remains today.

On 12 July, the United States government called on Iran to release Ganji "immediately and unconditionally."

WAN, the global association of the newspaper industry, has awarded the Golden Pen annually since 1961. Past winners include Argentina's Jacobo Timerman (1980), South Africa's Anthony Head (1986), China's Dai Qing (1992), Vietnam's Doan Viet Hoat of Vietnam (1998), Zimbabwe's Geoffrey Nyarota (2002), and Uzbekistan's Ruslan Sharipov (2004). The 2005 winner was journalist Mahjoub Mohamed Salih of Sudan.

The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 72 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 10 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: http://www.wan-press.org/newsletter/Frontoffice/openpage.php?.

Monday Nov. 15,2005
News in brief : gooya news online reporting from" ILNA ":
The lawyer of Mr. Mojtaba Samieinejad (a blogger )reported that his client have been transfered to " GHazal Hesar " prison. I acknowledge that transfering my client to " Ghazal Hesar " prison is illegal .
Mr. Mohammad Seifzadeh in a contact with " ILNA " reporter announced that his clients have been transfered to Ghazal Hesar prison where there are many Afghan citizen with heavy charges like murder are being kept. He said that : Mr. Samieinejad is an student and his charges are political, he added: it is not worthy to accomodate an student whose charges are political and the law provides special benefit for these kind of charges be left with murderers. I call the transfer of my client to Ghazal Hesar prison an illegal act.

End if news/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA

Link to this news in Farsi from gooya:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/039271.php

Monday Nov. 14,2005

Stephan Hachemi, son of Zahra Kazemi, has condemned the organizers of Montreal's documentary film festival for accepting money from the Iranian government.

Read about the incident here:
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/story.html?id=bc263ce2-bb34-4660-86be-96a3b750c253
Kazemi's son disrupts Montreal filmfest
Organizers condemned for accepting grant from Iran

Jeff Heinrich
CanWest News Service
Saturday, November 12, 2005
ADVERTISEMENT


MONTREAL - "Shame on you!" With those words, the son of a slain Canadian-Iranian photojournalist disrupted a Montreal film festival, condemning its organizers for accepting support from Iran.
Stephan Hachemi, whose mother, Zahra Kazemi, died after sustaining injuries while in custody in Iran, shouted the words from the back of a packed theatre of film festival invitees on Thursday night.
Organizers of the 8th annual Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire film festival were denounced by Mr. Hachemi for accepting a $2,000 grant from the government of Iran.
The grant was in support of a retrospective series of screenings of classic Iranian documentaries.
Mr. Hachemi, who was joined by two Iranian exiles, photographer Shahrzad Arshadi and filmmaker Masood Raouf, also objected to the fact that festival organizers had, in an opening speech and in the festival guide, thanked Iran and its Canadian embassy for their help.
Two years ago the same festival set up an exhibition of Ms. Kazemi's photos critical of the Iranian regime. Iran's Islamic government continues to censor artists and media.
"It's wrong," Mr. Hachemi said in an interview.
"The festival should not be compromising in any way with the government of Iran, especially in such a cheap and insulting way."
Festival programming director Bernard Boulad admitted that thanking Iran for its support was a touchy issue.
"With a country that's known to be quite repressive, it was a difficult thing to do," Mr. Boulad said yesterday. "We could have not mentioned it, but it's a question of diplomacy."
Holding the retrospective -- even with Iran's small financial contribution -- is better than not showing the films at all, he added.
"It's a way to make the country better known and give support to its filmmakers, who in any case are showing that the country is far from being a paradise," Mr. Boulad said.
The festival is screening 20 documentary films shot in Iran between 1962 and 2004. The retrospective was organized with the film magazine Hors Champ with financial contributions from the Conseil des arts de Montreal and Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization.
In her speech opening the festival, festival executive director Marie-Anne Raulet acknowledged Iran's support.
As well, the festival's official program personally thanks the Iranian embassy's cultural attache in Ottawa, Fazel Larijani. He is the brother of Ali Ardashir Larijani, a conservative candidate in Iran's presidential elections last June.
© National Post 2005

Saturday Nov. 12 , 2005
News update- gooya news online reporting from ILNA :

ILNA :Ganji's wife met her husband the other day !
Mr. Yadollah Eslami reported that the other day he have met Akbar Ganji in Evin prison.
According to report from ILNA , Mr. Eslami in his personal weblog have written: "Today I had so many work to do, it was mid-day that i spoke with Mr. Mortazavi ( Tehran public prosecutor - known as the butcher of free press and independent journalists)about Ganji and by coordination we agreed that i meet Ganji in Evin prison. After a few Telephone call, Mr. Nabavi called me back , and 4:00 pm was adopted for visitation. In anther call we agreed that Ganji's wife also be present , quarter to five we were at Evin prison, prior to this, I have gone to Ganji's home and spoke with her about this matter and we have come to Evin prison. The prison agents had good manner with us and guided us into the prison and brought us to the place of meeting with Ganji. In praying room of the office we spent some time waiting for Ganji and after short time , They came with Mr. Ganji. Off course at this time , I went to another section to speak to Mr. Nabavi, Salarkia and Soleimani about Gani's situation and after a few minuites i came back to Ganji.
Beforehand the time of visitation was set to one hour but it was continued to more than one hour and no one stoped us. It was clear that the necessary order was given to the agents. We spoke on everything and I can't write today about the content of our discussion , I wrote this because i wanted at least to have written something.
Also, Mrs. Masumeh Shafiei ( Ganji's wife ) in speaking with ILNAs' reporter have said: The other day together with Mr. Eslami, I visited Ganji but Ganji's children were not permited to see their father and it is now 77 days that they havn't seen their father.
While talking about no changes on Ganj's situation She said: Still Ganji is thin and weak and is being held in section Alef-2 .
On speaking about Ganjis have pretty good moral she said: Now, there is no more talk about hunger strike but there are sign of disorder in his eating.
Link to this news in Farsi:

End of news.
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA

Other news in brief:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/039168.php
Radio Farda :Lawyer Mrs.Mehrangis Kar( wife of Journalist Siamak Pourzand ) have said that; Tehran public prosecutor used worse behaviour toward Ganji.
Link to this news:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/039212.php
"ILNA" : Open letter by the "Association of Syndicate Journalists of Iran" to Mr. Shahrudi the head of judiciary power for the release of Akbar Ganji.
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/039207.php
"ILNA ": 2500 students from "Amir Kabir" University have signed a petition to Judiciary power for the release of Ganji.
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/039206.php

This is a petition in support of Akbar Ganji:
RAN Appeal #43, 2005: Iran
This week’s appeal: journalist Akbar Ganji.
For a full list of Honorary Members, click on the following link: http://www.pencanada.ca/prison/HonoraryMembers.php.
Thank you to all of you who have agreed to take part in the Rapid Action Network (RAN) and for all the responses we have received to the previous appeals. Remember - you do not have to send out each and every appeal. We now have more than 100 members of the Rapid Action Network, and many appeals have been sent out each week. Thank you for all your work!
How you can add your name to this appeal
Following the appeal letter, which describes PEN Canada's concerns, you will see addresses to which the letter can be mailed or faxed. You can send it to one or all. If email addresses are available, they will also be included. If you are emailing, please “copy and paste” the letter into a new email in order to retain the format of the letter, rather than just forwarding it. Please feel free to personalize the appeal letter.
Which method of sending your appeal is most effective?
Fax is the best, airmail is second and e-mail is last, partly because your signature is an important part of the letter and also because many people do not perceive an e-mail to be official. It is also rare for us to have an e-mail address for a foreign official. In terms of cost – mailing is usually a cheaper option than faxing. It currently costs $1.45 to mail a 30g letter internationally. Please also note that, in some cases, you may have problems faxing to foreign countries.
Time Frame
It should be fine to send letters for the full week following the Friday e-mail. If we receive news that makes the appeal redundant, we will try to inform you of that fact as soon as possible.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about these appeal letters or the Rapid Action Network, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at wipc@pencanada.ca.
Send us a copy of your appeal
One last thing: please let us know (by e-mail) each time you send out an appeal so that we keep track of the actions of the Rapid Action Network.

Regards,
David Cozac
PEN Canada
November 11, 2005

Ayatollah Ali KhameneiSupreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The Office of the Supreme LeaderShoahada Street, Qom
Fax: +011 98 21 774 2228
E-mail: info@wilayah.net, info@leader.ir, istiftaa@wilayah.org
Web: http://www.wilayah.ir/

Excellency,

I wish to add my name to this appeal from PEN Canada, the Canadian centre of the international writers’ organization, International PEN. PEN Canada is writing to express alarm at reports that journalist Akbar Ganji has been tortured and is in worsening health.

In an open letter published on October 27, 2005, on the Emrouz news Web site, Ganji's wife, Massoumeh Shafii, reported that she was allowed to visit her husband on October 18. That was 51 days after she had last visited him in hospital on August 28. Shafii stated that her husband told her that, two days after her last visit, a team of Iranian security officers had visited him in hospital and asked him to apologize in writing for his book Republican Manisfesto and for the letters he had written to Ayatollah Montazeri, and to undertake not to give interviews if he were to be granted prison leave. Ganji refused and was reportedly severely beaten by the same officers while in the quarantine wing of the Milad hospital.

Previously, on September 3, Ganji was reportedly told by the head of the of same security team that he was about to be released and that the officers who had beaten him would apologize for their actions. He was then driven to Evin prison and, during the car journey, was reportedly ill-treated and suffered a dislocated shoulder as a result. His request to be taken back to hospital was denied and he was given physiotherapy by a prison doctor. He remains in Evin prison.

Ganji suffers from chronic asthma for which he has been repeatedly denied necessary medical care, and had recently ended a two-month hunger strike during which his health severely deteriorated. He is said to be held in solitary confinement in the intelligence section of Evin prison, and to be losing weight as a result of inadequate diet. His condition is said to be deteriorating.

PEN Canada is shocked by reports that Akbar Ganj was tortured by security officers and that he continues to be ill-treated in prison. We urge that an investigation be conducted into these allegations. PEN Canada is seriously concerned for Ganji's health and urges that he receive the specialist medical care that he requires as a matter of urgency. We also call for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]


Copies to:

His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +011 98 21 649 5880
E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
Web-based message to President Amhadinejad: http://www.president.ir/email/

Acting Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 879 6671
Email: irjpr@iranjudiciary.org (mark 'Please forward to HE Ayatollah Shahroudi'), Rahimi@iranjudiciary.org

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations622 Third Avenue, 34th FloorNew York, NY 10017Fax: (212) 867-7086E-mail: iran@un.int

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran245 Metcalfe St.Ottawa ON K2P 2K2Fax: (613) 232-5712E-mail: iranemb@salamiran.org

Please send copies of your appeal to the following Canadian authorities:

The Hon. Pierre PettigrewMinister of Foreign Affairs Lester B. Pearson Building, Room A-10 125 Sussex DriveOttawa ON K1A 0G2Fax: (613) 996 3443E-mail: pierre.pettigrew@international.gc.ca

Peter Harder
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs Canada
E-mail: peter.harder@international.gc.ca

Eric WalshCoordinator, Middle East and North Africa AffairsDFAITE-mail: eric.walsh@international.gc.ca

Benoît GirouardPolitical and Trade Relations with IranDFAITE-mail: benoit.girouard@international.gc.ca

Henri-Paul Normandin
Director, Human Rights Division
Foreign Affairs Canada
E-mail: henri-paul.normandin@international.gc.ca

Saturday Nov. 12 , 2005
News in brief - iran-chabar.de reporting :
"Students Committee in defense of political prisoners" : Mr. Behruz Javid-Tehrani's sentence of four years imprisonment was reinstated !
Mr. Behruz J. Tehrani, is a member of "Democratic Party of Iran" and today his sentence was approved by Tehrans' appeal court .According to Behruz, today while in prison he recieved the four years sentence plus 74 lashes from appeal court.
Mr. Behruz, was charged for gathering together with others in front of UN in the City of Tehran on the month of August last year by the division number 26 of Tehran court of revolution and was sentenced to 7 years prison term and 74 lashes.
Also Mr. Khaled Hardani, another political prisoner who was sentenced to death, and a few days ago the prison official added another file to his file on the charge of escaping from prison and now is transfered to a solitary confinement in division # 6 of the prison in the city of " Rejaie".
Presently , Mr. Behruz J. Tehrani, Mr. Asad Shaghaghi, Mr. Khaled Hardani and Mr. Shahram and Mr. Farhang Poormansuri are in division # 6 of the prison in the city of " Rejaie" and are being kept in there with a very bad condition. According to these prisoners they do not have an specific place in the prison and therefore are sleeping on the floor and the officials does not pay any attention to place them in a room with beds.

komitedefa@yahoo.com
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-chabar.de/1384/08/21/003.htm
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA

Friday Nov. 11,2005
News update- Iran-Emrooz news online reporting from " ILNA " :

The two weblog writers from the city of Ghom have been acquited !
The defence lawyer of Mr. Farid Modaresi and Mr. Hosein Abdollahpoor , the two accused weblog writers from the city of Ghom have announced the acquital verdict of his clients.
Mr. Saleh Nikbakht in speaking with ILNA repoter by announcing this news have said : A well reasoned defence argument by these two weblog writers and journalists in appeal court , the judges of this court were satisfied that the preliminary court handed an illegal verdict about my clients and therefore issued an acquital verdict for these two weblog writers.

The lawyer said that Mr. Farid Modaresi and Mr. Hosein Abdollahpoor were accused of insulting the president and the members of the "Assembly of Systems Policy Recgnition" . Since Mr. Khatami did not file any complaint against them and also insulting to the members of the " Assembly of Systems Policy Recgnition" is not considered as general crime, but despite of thoes facts , the preliminary court wrongfuly have given 91 days imprisonment to my clients which brought our protest and appeal .

Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA

Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/5180/

Wednesday Nov. 9,2005
Gooya news online reporting :

Italian newspaper "La Repubblica" in an interview with "Emad Baghi" - Nov. 7,2005

" Emadodin Baghi" established an association in defense of prisoners in Iran and he is a journalist and at one time was working for seven newspaper and was also editor of several newspaper. In 2004 he recieved an international bravery award on civil right from " Parksion foundation " but when he was about to leave for New York to recieve tha award , he was banned to leave the country in the airport and his passport was confiscated by the authority . Emad spent three years in prison.

Here is a part of his interview about the prison situation in Iran :
Question: How is the present prison situation ? There are talks about Ganji that after ending his hunger strike he was returned to prison and now he is in quarentine ?
At present except 130,000 ordinary prisoners from 70 million population of Iran , we have two groupe of political prisoners. The number of prisoner of conscience and press related prisoners are between 40-50 people and the number of political prisoner related or are allegedly related to armed groupe as far as we identified are about 200-300 people. they are accused of murdering one or several people .the prison condition for these prisoners are much worse than those who's name have been published in western media. In our openion the second groupe even if commited crime their rights must be followed and none of the first groupe of prisoners deserve to be in prison and must be released immediately and they have more chance to be released by the influence of personalities from non-governmental organizations than the intervention of foriegn government because this might bring negative result.........

Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA

Link to this news in Farsi:
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/038987.php#more
Link to Ifex:
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/221/
Link to RSF :
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15304
Link to Pen Canada:
www.pencanada.ca

Wednesday Nov. 9,2005
News update on Ganji.Iran-emrooz online:
Recently Akbar Ganji's wife Mrs. Masumeh Shafiei expressed that her husband have been tortured in this regard an open letter was sent to Mr. Shahrudi the head of Iran's judiciary by many cultural,political and university activists and in the letter they protested to the violation on Akbar Ganji's human rights.

Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news/more/5152/

In another news from" ISNA " Mr. Katozian a lawyer protested against the attack on lawyers association and lawyers and demanded for the release of two prominent lawyer and human rights defenders Mr. Naser Zarafshan and Mr. Soltani.

Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/5148/

News Indicate that " Baztab " news online which was temporarily banned ( on Wed. Oct. 12/2005) with the complaint from the supreme council of national security , have been removed and therefore Baztab can resume its activities.

Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/5150/

Translated by the IRAN WATCH CANADA

Wednesday Nov. 9,2005
The situation in Iran is very chaotic !
Political,economical and social unrest in Iran has entered to a new stage. The situation now seems uncontrolable and moving toward a disaster. Iran with 30 million of its 69 million population are under 30 years of age and with 2 million unemployment according to the government statistic and with 9 trillion Tuman (750Tuman= 1 Canadian Dollar ) shortage in government budget during the current year and the daily scape of capital to the neighboring countries, in this particular instance one of the recent report indicate that 10,000 small companies have moved their capital to small Persian gulf states and Turkey that means if every company did move one million dollars the sum of the capital that has moved to these states are 10 billion dollars. In another report the IMF has announced that annoually 11 billion dollar human capital is leaving the country for western countries.The same report adds that; every year around 150-180 thousands Iranian with university education are leaving the country to find a better socio-economical life, therefore, leaving Iran in the world just after Korea , Phillippines, China and Taiwan for the scape of minds. In addition hundreds of other major socio - economic as well as political problems widdens the errosion of the political system in Iran.

Now , IRAN WATCH CANADA have been monitoring just one specific case in Iran, that is the violation of human rights particularly the freedom of expression, information and the rights of journalists which should be announced here that since the violation is so much it is hard to catch up with the daily news on violation , the same scenario can be for other issues such as economic corruption and so on and so forth.

Above all is the " problem mongering " policy of the Islamic Republic regime in Iran not only within its territory but also internationally . One of the major problem we witnessed was the recent comment of the president Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who have said that; Israel sould be removed from the mape of the globe. This kind of comments isn't new with this regime, when the founder of the regime stunned the whole world by giving a " Fatwa " to moslem everywhere to kill Salman Rushdie for writing the book called " The Satanic Verses".

At the end , recently Canadian government have introduced a resolution on continues violation of human rights by the Islamic Republic regime in Iran and 38 countries have signed the resolution. Every Iranian except a small portion looking forward to see the resolution to be adopted and passed in UN unanimously.

e.
IRAN WATCH CANADA

Tuesday Nov. 8,2005
News in brief : ILNA reports from Iran:
Mr. Afshin Zeraie has been accused for internet charges and currently is in prison and the court today has reviewed his chrges in a closed door.
This morning the closed door court with Mr. Sarami as presiding judge has started in the criminal court division number 76 of Tehran province.
Mr. Nemat Ahmadi is acting as lawyer for Mr. Zeraie and in speaking with ILNA said: The court is asked to find professionals to look into the allegation of Tehran public prosecutors and also the court must determine the amount for bail so that my client can be released soon.

Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA

Link to this news :
http://raha.gooya.name/politics/archives/038933.php
Link to ifex:
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/221/
Link to RSF:
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15304
Link to pen Canada:
www.pencanada.ca

Temporary closure of "Baztab" online ! Site of "Baztab" still closed !

Baztab online was closed because it has disclosed information about financial mischief and apparently the letter of former head of the supreme council for national security was the reason for it's closure.

End/

International Organizations urged Ahmadinezhad to gurantee Ganji's rights!

Wednesday Nov. 2,2005
News updates on investigative journalist Akbar Ganji - Iran-Emrooz online reporting:

Iran - Emrooz on its site reported that two international human rights organizations written an open letter to Iranian President Mr. Ahmadinezhad and demanded that ; Iran's government to gurantee Ganji's rights !

" International Federation of Human Rights " ( Mr. Abdolkarim Lahiji an Iranian lawyer is the vice president of the organization ) and "International Organization Against Torture " are two effective international organization that are defending human rights, in an open letter to Iranian president Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad demanded for immediate and unconditional release of Akbar Ganji the imprisoned Iranian journalist.
The letter state that :
" We protest to continues imprisonment and torture of Ganji the journalist of " Sobhe Emrooz" newspaper and human rights defender.Mr. Ganji was arrested on April 2000 and on June 2001 on the charges of " Threat to national authorities and propaganda against values of Islamic government " was sentenced to six years imprisonment. At the end of 1998 he was charged and arrested for disclosing the details murdering of intellectuals and opposition to Islamic Government in which by implicating several high ranking officials to these murdering.Mr. Ganji in protest to his arrest went on hunger strike and from June 11 to Aug. 22 /2005 was transfered to Milad hospital, during this time he lost 25 KG.of weight. and since he diden't recover his health. Recently the supervision program was informed that during the two days treatment in hospital and with the goal of taking back his statement against the leader of the Islamic Republic and by following his leadership , he was harrassed and tortured and then again he was brought back to Evin prison ( Sep. 3 / 2005). ..............

Here is the complete text of the letter :

Press ReleaseOpen Letter to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,Mr. Mahmoud AhmadinejadParis-Geneva, October 28, 2005Re: Fear of torture of Mr. Akbar Ganji, arbitrarily detainedDear Sir,The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT), expresses its deep concern about the continuing detention and reported ill-treatment and torture inflicted on Mr. Akbar Ganji, a journalist of the daily newspaper Sobh-e-Emrooz and human rights defender.Mr. Akbar Ganji was arrested in April 2000 and sentenced to six years in prison in July 2001 on the charge of "threatening national security and propaganda against the institutions of the Islamic State". He was accused of having revealed details concerning the murder of intellectuals and opponents to the regime at the end of 1998, and of having accused certain politicians of being involved.Mr. Akbar Ganji carried out a hunger strike in order to protest against his detention, from June 11 to August 22 2005, when he was transferred to the hospital. He lost 25 kg and has not recovered since then.The Observatory has recently been informed that Mr. Akbar Ganji was tortured and ill-treated during two days when he was hospitalised, with the objective of compelling him to renounce to his positions and to promise allegiance to the Supreme Leader. After he refused, he was taken back to the Evin prison on September 3, 2005. During the transfer, in the car, Mr. Ganji’s eyes were blindfolded and he was nearly strangulated by the person accompanying him in order to frighten him.Since then, Mr. Ganji is detained in solitary confinement in a special wing of the Evin prison. It should be reminded that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, on visit in Iran in February 2003, was refused access to that wing by secret service agents, and could consequently not visit this "prison within a prison" where mostly political prisoners seem to be detained.Mr. Akbar Ganji was only allowed one visit, on October 17, 2005, by his wife, his mother and one of his lawyers. His physical and psychological health is extremely poor and the Observatory fears for his life.Mr. Akbar Ganji’s arbitrary detention constitutes a blatant violation of the Islamic Republic’s international human rights commitments and seriously tarnishes the country’s reputation. The Observatory recalls that on September 16, 2005, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression called on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release him without further delay. Previously, on July 15, 2005, the Special Rapporteurs on the right to health, on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and on torture, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders, and the Chairperson of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had appealed in a joint statement to the Government to guarantee Mr. Ganji’s rights not to be arbitrarily deprived of his liberty (See Observatory Urgent Appeal IRN 001/0004/OBS 030.7).The Observatory urges you, as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Akbar Ganji, to ensure his immediate and unconditional release, and to allow him to receive the medical care he urgently needs.In the hope you will take these considerations and requests into account,We remain,Sidiki KABA President of FIDH Eric SOTTASDirector of OMCTPress ReleaseIranIranian President's Declarations Amount to a Propaganda for WarParis, 28 October 2005 – The FIDH expresses its indignation about the recent declarations made by Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in which he declared that "Israel should be wiped off the map" and warned leaders of Muslim nations who recognised the state of Israel that they faced "the wrath of their own people".FIDH vigorously recall that such declarations are in blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and in particular Article 2 which requires « all Members [to] refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state ».In addition, the FIDH urge the Iranian authorities to abide by article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Iran which states that « any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law. »« Those declarations which in some circumstances could amount to a crime – encourage hatred and feed fanaticism and violence. » said Sidiki Kaba, President of the FIDH and Karim Lahidji, icepresidentof FIDH and President of the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights.FIDH reiterates its vigorous call in favor of the effective implementation of International law in order to lead to a safe and respectful coexistence of the States of Israel and Palestine.Contact : Gaël Grilhot : +331 43 55 25 18