A CALL FROM
AKBAR GANJI, HOLDER OF A “GOLDEN PEN OF FREEDOM AWARD”
Iranian
dissident thinker-writer and journalist Akbar Ganji
connected live from Germany to the Persian television
program broadcasted half an hour every day since 2003 by the
US based Voice of America (VOA), and made a speech.
Calling all
Iranians living in and out of Iran to gather in front of the
UN building in New York on July 14-16, 2006, Ganji called
for a hunger strike for the release of political prisoners
including Ramin Jahanbagloo, Mansoor Asanloo and Aliakbar
Mousavi Khoeiniha. “We are going to organize a demonstration
in the same place with a broad participation. We can even do
it in an alley close to the UN building in case no
permission is given,” stated Ganji. Ganji asked the
participants not to bring any other flags/placards than the
pictures of Ramin Jahanbagloo, Mansoor Asanloo and Aliakbar
Mousavi Khoeiniha and signs demanding the release of the
mentioned individuals. Several prominent figures of the
cultural, legal and political fields of Iran, and the
representatives of political movements and civil
organizations eagerly accepted this invitation, announcing
their participation to the protest demonstration.
Traveling
abroad after six years of imprisonment so as to receive “the
Golden Pen pf Freedom Award” presented by the World
Association of Newspapers (WAN) on June 04, 2006 due to “his
struggle for freedom of expression in Iran and his
resistance to oppression”, Akbar Ganji accepted the award in
a ceremony organized during the “59th Congress of
World Newspapers” held in Kremlin, Moscow from Vladimir
Putin, the President of the Russian Federation.
Traveling to
Europe from Moscow, Akbar Ganji demanded from the Iranian
Government the release of Ramin Jahanbagloo, Mansoor Asanloo
and Aliakbar Mousavi Khoeiniha, and stated that he would
call all Iranians to a hunger strike in case this demand is
not fulfilled. Several prominent figures of the Iranian
society have already joined the group of hunger strikers
“aiming to provide freedom for the prisoners spending time
in division 209 of Evin Prison”. We see the signature of
famous poet Simin Behbahany among these prominent faces. “I
would like to participate in all efforts for Iran aiming the
release of political prisoners. I completely agree with the
call made by Akbar Ganji, who served 6 years in prison and
spent grave days. In this framework I will go on a hunger
strike,” said Simin Behbehany, a member of the Association
of Iranian Poets and Writers.
Another
positive response to Akbar Ganji’s call came from Fatemeh
Haghighatjoo, former deputy of the Khatami era. “I find this
hunger strike that will take place all around the world very
important for Iran and Iranians. It is of vital importance
for journalists, writers and politicians serving in Iranian
prisons, and for the Southern Azerbaijani students that have
recently been arrested as well,” emphasized Haghighatjoo,
who is currently living in America. Stating that she would
participate in this hunger strike along with her friends,
Haghighatjoo said that she was praying for the release of
several Turkish citizens who were captured during the
incidents in Azerbaijan, and they will go on strike for
those captured in front of the UN building.
