European Union’s 27 leaders urged not to recognise Ahmadinejad’s reelection

Reporters Without Borders is extremely worried about the state of free expression in Iran, one week after the announcement of the results of its presidential election. There is a danger that today’s endorsement of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s reelection victory by the Revolution’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, could aggravate the situation. The press freedom organisation therefore wrote today to the leaders of the European Union’s 27 member countries reiterating its call not to recognise Ahmadinejad’s reelection. “If President Ahmadinejad does not agree to respect press freedom, he must be made to see reason,” the letter said. “A clear and unequivocal rejection of the election results by European leaders could force Ahmadinejad to yield. The nuclear stakes in Iran must not serve as a pretext for saying nothing. This is not the time for timid or cautious statements.” “The European Union and its member countries must not falter in their defence of freedom of expression,” the letter continued. “No government would have recognised the results of such a sham if it had taken place anywhere in Europe. Must the normal standards be abandoned because it is Iran? That would be a stab in the back for all the Iranian citizens who believed their ballot could change their destiny.” Following today’s address by the Supreme Leader, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reminded the Iranian authorities of their obligations under international law. Iran has signed and ratified the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which says that “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention” (article 9), “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression” (article 19) and “the right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized” (article 21). At least 18 journalists have been arrested since 12 June. We are without news of many others. With luck, some are holed up somewhere, waiting for better days. The rest may well be in jail, with the journalists who have already been there for some time. Iran was already the Middle East’s biggest prison for journalists before the presidential election. Now, with at least 30 journalists detained, it has become the world’s second biggest prison for the media, ahead of Cuba and just behind China. Reporters Without Borders has been told that journalists and activists held in Tehran’s Evin prison are being put under a lot of pressure to make filmed “confessions” acknowledging their “participation in a velvet revolution.” The press freedom organisation has also received many allegations of torture. Eighteen journalists have been arrested in the week since the presidential election results : 14 June: - Somayeh Tohidloo, who also keeps a blog (http://smto.ir) - Ahmad Zeydabadi - Kivan Samimi Behbani - Abdolreza Tajik - Mahssa Amrabad - Behzad Basho, a cartoonist - Khalil Mir Asharafi, a TV producer - Karim Arghandeh, a blogger (http://www.futurama.ir/) and reporter for pro-reform newspapers Salam, Vaghieh and Afaghieh, who was arrested at his Tehran home. 15 June: - Mohamad Atryanfar, the publisher of several newspapers including Hamshary, Shargh and Shahrvand Emrouz, who has reportedly been taken to the security wing of Evin prison. - Saeed Hajjarian, the former editor of the newspaper Sobh-e-Emrouz, who was arrested at his Tehran home on the night of 15 June despite being badly handicapped. - Mojtaba Pormohssen, who edits the newspaper Gylan Emroz and contributes to several other pro-reform newspapers and radio Zamaneh. He was arrested in the northern city of Rashat. 16 June: - Mohammad Ali Abtahi, also known as the “Blogging Mullah,” who was arrested at his Tehran home. His blog: http://www.webneveshteha.com/. - Hamideh Mahhozi, arrested in the southern city of Bushehr. - Amanolah Shojai, who is also a blogger. Arrested in Bushehr. - Hossin Shkohi, who works for the weekly Paygam Jonob. Arrested in Bushehr. - Mashalah Hidarzadeh, arrested in Bushehr. 17 June: - Saide Lylaz, a business reporter for the newspaper Sarmayeh, who had been very critical of Ahmadinejad’s policies. He was arrested at his Tehran home. - Rohollah Shassavar, a journalist based in the city of Mashad. Photos taken by Iranian journalists sent to Reporters Without Borders are accessible on this Website : http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/portfolio/2009/06/19/iran-l-opposition-defile-la-mobilisation-de-faiblit-pas_1208738_3218.html#ens_id=1190750