In defense of free speech

Iranian bloggers' letter in response to Hossein Derakhshan's detention

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In defense of free speech
by Jahanshah Javid
18-Dec-2008
 

We, the undersigned, view the circumstances surrounding the Iranian authorities' arrest of Hossein Derakhshan (hoder.com), one of the most prominent Iranian bloggers, as extremely worrying.  Derakhshan's disappearance, detention at an unknown location, lack of access to his family and attorneys, and the authorities' failure to provide clear information about his potential charges is a source of concern for us.

The Iranian blogging community is one of the largest and most vibrant in the world.  From ordinary citizens to the President, a diverse and large number of Iranians are engaged in blogging. These bloggers encompass a wide spectrum of views and perspectives, and they play a vital role in open discussions of social, cultural and political affairs.

Unfortunately, in recent years, numerous websites and blogs have been routinely blocked by the authorities, and some bloggers have been harassed or detained.  Derakhshan's detention is but the latest episode in this ongoing saga and is being viewed as an attempt to silence and intimidate the blogging community as a whole.

Derakhshan's own position regarding a number of prisoners of conscience in Iran has been a source of contention among the blogging community and has caused many to distance themselves from him.  This, however, doesn't change the fact that the freedom of expression is sacred for all not just the ones with whom we agree.

We therefore categorically condemn the circumstances surrounding Derakhshan's arrest and detention and demand his immediate release.

ما امضا کنندگان ذیل، شرایط  دستگیری حسین درخشان، یکی از سرشناس ترین بلاگرهای ایرانی، توسط مقامات ایران را به شدت نگران کننده می دانیم.  ناپدید شدن، حبس در مکانی مجهول، عدم دسترسی به اعضای خانواده و وکلای مدافع، و اعلام نکردن اطلاعات شفاف در خصوص موارد اتهام احتمالی نامبرده همگی باعث نگرانی ما ست.

جامعه وبلاگ نویسان ایران یکی از فعال ترین و بزرگترین جوامع اینترنتی جهان است.  از شهروندان معمولی تا رییس جمهور ایران،  بسیاری به امر نوشتن در وبلاگهای مختلف مشغول اند.  این وبلاگ نویسان دارای طیف وسیعی از عقاید و آرا هستند و نقش مهمی در مباحث اجتماعی، فرهنگی، و سیاسی ایفا می کنند.

متاسفانه ظرف سالهای اخیر، وبسایت ها و وبلاگهای متعددی به صورت منظم توسط مقامات ایران فیلتر شده و شماری از وبلاگ نویسان با آزار و حبس روبرو شده اند.  بازداشت حسین درخشان تنها آخرین نمونه از این نوع برخوردها ست و به نظر می آید این اقدام در راستای ایجاد رعب و واداشتن وبلاگ نویسان به سکوت طراحی شده است.

مواضع حسین درخشان در خصوص تعدادی از کسانی که بدلیل عقایدشان زندانی شده اند باعث رنجش جامعه وبلاگ نویسان ایرانی بوده و همین موجب شده بسیاری از آنان از وی دوری بجویند.  با اینهمه، این موضوع این حقیقت را نفی نمی کند که آزادی بیان حقی مقدس است و باید برای همه در نظر گرفته شود، نه فقط کسانی که با آنها موافقیم.

بنابرین، ما از این منظر، به طور اصولی شرایط دستگیری و بازداشت حسین درخشان را محکوم می کنیم و خواهان آزادی فوری او هستیم.

Arash Abadpour
//kamangir.net/

Mohammad Afrasiabi
//amoo-arvand.blogspot.com/

Nazanin Afshin-Jam
//www.nazanin.ca/

Niki Akhavan
//benevis-dige.blogspot.com/

Pouya Alagheband
//fromvan.persianblog.ir/

Asdollah Alimohammadi
//www.mebaily.com/

Youness Alvandi
//www.younessa.com/

Anahita Aloocheh Khanoom
//aloochehkhanoom.blogspot.com/

Mehrdad Aref-Adib
//www.aref-adib.com

Bahare
//2khtarekhorshid.com/

Hossein Bagher Zadeh
//iranian.com/main/blog/hossein-bagher-zadeh

Bahram
//letrepersan.wordpress.com/

Banadfsheh
//banafsheh192.blogfa.com/

Qumars Bolourchian
//iranian.com/main/blog/q

Taha Bazri
//www.bazri.com/

Mani Behrouz
//mpahlavi.blogspot.com/

Behdad Borbdar
//parakandeham.blogspot.com/

Deserter
//deserter.wordpress.com/

Sanam Dolatshahi
//www.khorshidkhanoom.com/

The flying dutchman
//silisia1983.blogfa.com/

Mohammad Ali Entezari
//kallesangi.blogspot.com/

David Etebari
//peyvast.blog.com/

Fereshteh Ghazi
//www.fereshteh.blogfa.com/

Hossein Ghazian
//www.daal.ir/

Armin Gilehmard
//gilehmard.blogspot.com/

Farhad Heyrani
//farhadheyrani.blogspot.com/

Bamdad Irani
//bamdadi.com/

IranWrites
//iranian.com/main/blog/iranwrites

Sadegh Jam
//blognevesht.com/

Mehdi Jami
//sibestaan.malakut.org/

Jahanshah Javid
//iranian.com/main/blog/jahanshah-javid

Navid K
//www.livebee.wordpress.com/

Sadegh Kabeer
//www.eterazonline.com/

Sohrab Kabuli
//www.kabuli.org/

Darius Kadivar
//iranian.com/main/blog/darius-kadivar

Abdee Kalantari
//www.nilgoon.org

Sheema Kalbasi
//www.zaneirani.blogspot.com/

Mohammad Ali Kallesangi
//kallesangi.blogspot.com/

Nazli Kamvari
//sibiltala.blogspot.com/

Nazy Kaviani
//nazykaviani.blogspot.com/

Haji Kensington
//www.mibibi.com/

Yaser Kerachian
//vahid.blogspot.com

Naz Khatoun
//www.nazkhatoun.com/

Mani Khorsandi
//gapvgoft.blogspot.com/

Peyvand Khorsandi
//soulbean.wordpress.com/

Foaad Khosmood
//iranian.com/main/blog/foaad-khosmood

Nikahang Kowsar
//nikahang.blogspot.com/

Mardetanha
//mardetanha.blogspot.com/

Marjaneh
//marjaneh.blogsky.com/

Abbas Maroufi
//maroufi.malakut.org/

Mehran Mehrafshan
//xseer.com/

Omid Memarian
//omidmemarian.blogspot.com/

Seraj Mirdamadi
//www.roozneveshtha.com/

Pedram Moallemian
//www.eyeranian.net/

Ali Moayedian
//payvand.com/

Farhad Mortaz
//www.fmortaz.blogspot.com

Mostafa
//cafenaderi.wordpress.com/

Motevalled
//www.motevalled.blogspot.com/

Ebrahim Nabavi
//www.doomdam.com/

Babak Nabizadeh
//cloudy.blogsky.com/

Hadi Naseri
//hadinaseri.blogfa.com/

Masoome Naseri
//www.mimnoon.com/

Niloofar
//www.sunisblind.blogspot.com/

Partow Nooriala
//noorialapartow.blogfa.com/

Kaveh Nouraee
//iranian.com/main/blog/kaveh-nouraee

Zainolabedin Nourani
//nourani.blogfa.com/

Niloufar Parsi
//iranian.com/main/blog/niloufar-parsi

Shahrnush Parsipur
//www.shahrnushparsipur.com/

Farhad Radmehrian
//iranian.com/main/blog/farrad02

Ahmad Rafat
//rafat.malakut.org/

Fati Raja
//www.fatiraja.blogspot.com

Shadi Ramez
//measer-pear.blogspot.com/

Paris Rezaie
//www.excounty.blogspot.com

Khodadad Rezakhani
//www.vishistorica.com/

Arash Royayee
//www.dreamlandblog.com/

Farnaz Seifi
//farnaaz.org/

Cyrus Shahidi
//andishehblog.wordpress.com/

Sahand Shams
//www.sahandshams.blogspot.com/

Ari Siletz
//arisiletz.com/

Zan Zamini
//zamin4.blogfa.com/

Leva Zand
//balootak.com/

Zeitoon
//z8un.com/

Sameddin Ziaee
//sameddin-ziaee.blogspot.com/

Majid Zohari
//www.majidzohari.com/

[If you are a blogger and wish to add your name to this list, leave a comment below]

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more from Jahanshah Javid
 
I Have a Crush on Alex Trebek

Anonym 7 Thanks

by I Have a Crush on Alex Trebek on

I hope you get to go back to Iran again. We Iranians are the unluckiest people on earth. We're between a rock and a hard place. Iran is magnificent and nothing can replace what it is like to be there amongst family and friends. It's the best place on earth.

BUT if you have issues or worries traveling, the next best thing is to meet family across the border in cities like Ankara.... not Dubai. God please stop going to Dubai Iranians. To go Vegas for god's sake. Dubai is crashing now too, real estate wise, so there's karma for you. 

There's really no logic when you deal with IRI. But that's also true of Hossein. I don't know who is stupider, Hossein or IRI. My money is on Hossein being the dumber one. My opinion is that IRI is making an example out of this guy because he's famous. Hossein is so public, but still so mysterious. Maybe we made him a mystery. He wasn't THAT complicated. He had a change of heart, everyone was disappointed. IT HAPPENS. Look here what Lieberman is doing in Congress. I think Hossein isn't even smart enough to be a spy. I think we over-inflated his identity and he just did something stupid by thinking he could go to Israel and then mosey over to Tehran. I don't have sympathy for him. I'm sorry. But I'd like him to be released because Iran is wasting their time with him. He's not that talented or wise.


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Maybe Hossein knew (to Marge ...)

by Anonym7 (not verified) on

Marge says: "...I feel like Hossein walked into this..."

good point Marge, not too long ago I decided to visit Iran after many years. I gave my arrest a probability of %51+. I needed to go back, even if I knew for sure I would be arrested, I would have gone back.
Hopefully one of these days I get a chance to visit Iran again .... and just like last time I don't give a hoot what happens despite my IRI jail experience some 25 years ago.... Iran is still Iran and I pay any price to walk in streets of Isfahan, and the orchards near Zaiandeh_rood.


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I'll support his right to free speech, but...

by Aboli (not verified) on

I am not sure this has been the reason he's been jailed. Honestly, I don't think Derakhshan's exercise of free speech has bothered IRI much.


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Abnuss

by Abnuss Sweden (not verified) on

Abnuss


Nader Vanaki

I Agree With the Dude who has a crush on Alex Trebek

by Nader Vanaki on

Now instead of post structuralism he can write about jail cell structuralism i.e. concrete vs brick and mortar.  Also, a good opportunity to study isolationism.  And let's not forget this opportune moment to study constipationalism!


I Have a Crush on Alex Trebek

I wonder if Hossein knows he is so lucky

by I Have a Crush on Alex Trebek on

I also hope you've all signed the SCE petitions too. Somehow, I feel like Hossein walked into this. What was he thinking? If he makes it out alive, he should milk this for all it's worth. The economy is dead, but there's always a market for Iranian jail stories.


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Free Hosein Derakhshan

by bahare (not verified) on

Add my signuter too plz.


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Hossein who?

by Call me a cynic (not verified) on

You see, it even applies in quasi democracy.
It's not about what you know but who you know!
Machiavellianism will eventually come and bite our own butts!


zigourat

please add my name

by zigourat on

to ferdos : give me just name of one person who are in jail because hossein's allegation. His view of persepolis movie is just an opinion. This is also free of speach anyone can have hiw own opinion about a movie or about a politician. Who are you to impose your point of view to anyone ?

 

to JJ : JJ jan please add my name also :

Name :  bahram

blog : //letrepersan.wordpress.com/


Niloufar Parsi

me too

by Niloufar Parsi on

Please add my name too.

Peace!


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please add my name

by Mostafa . (not verified) on

please add my name too


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In defense of free speech

by Mohammad Ali (not verified) on

لطفا اسم من رو هم در اين ليست قرار بدهيد. ممنونم


IranWrites

I hope he learns something

by IranWrites on

I hope he learns something of all these. Please add my name too.


David ET

add me

by David ET on

I do not approve of Mr. Derakhsahan's views , however if he happens to be imprisoned by the Islamic Republic, I also demand his immediate unconditional release.

//peyvast.blog.com

//iranian.com/main/member/david-et


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please add my name

by mardetanha (not verified) on

thanks please add my name also


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IRANdokht: Thanks for educating me

by farrad02 on

Jahanshah: I stand corrected; didn't realize we had multiple comment pages!


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For free idea & free speech

by زن زمینی (not verified) on

free Hosein Derakhshan


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امیدوارم روزی

Farhad Heyrani (not verified)


امیدوارم روزی ما هم بتوانیم در کنار هم ، یکدیگر را تحمل کنیم


Arash Monzavi-Kia

Freedom of speech

by Arash Monzavi-Kia on

Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of civilization. Unless IRI frees all the thinkers, writers and free spirits, it does not belong to the civilized world. 

Arash M-K


Parthian

I am all for freedom speech..

by Parthian on

No one should be punished for speech, but if you support that system, you should take a little bit of that medicine. I hope IR information ministry, and judicial system open big can of a$$ whoopin' on this guy's big mouth before they let him go. I mean, take those shoes off, and hit him on the head, just as they did to that innocent poor woman photo journalist Kazemi. He should be freed, but I hope no one signs this petition, he does not deserve it.


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release Hossein

by Niloofar (not verified) on

We all support this idea that Hossein Derakhshan as a bloger should be released.


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No wonder why a few lice-stricken mullahs

by Anonymous^2 (not verified) on

are ruling over a 70-million so-called 3-thousand-year-old country!? Because of confused, wobbling, and random-walking citizens like you. Either you are for free speech or not! Make up you mind!

I believe Hooder should stay in prison until he learns what Islamic Republic is all about!


Souri

My question is very relevant to the Petition at hand

by Souri on

Ghalam-doon

Do we dislike the guy and his unorthodox opinions that much that we cannot see this simple fact ?

No, I don't see it. If you see the fact, please inform me too, so I maybe willing to support the petition. My question is about the petition itself. 

According to the news, Hoder is arrested not for his speech (that would be a joke !!) but as a spy, because of his trip to Israel (as you know usually all the spy blast it to the world when they travel to a country !!).........

Therefore, according to this fact, I don't see the relation between the "freedom of speech" and hoder's arrest in Iran!! That's why I'm asking more info. Maybe someone (yourself) knows more about Hoder's allegations ? Please inform us accurately.

 


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Lets hope........ t:(

by YT (not verified) on

Lets hope they do not kill him like they did my 26 yr old nephew.

-YT


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امضاء

Babak nabizadeh (not verified)


در هرحالت تجاوز به آزادی‌های فردی محکوم است مهم نیست این فرد چه کسی باشد... فقط امیدوارم دیر نشده باشد و مانند تجربه‌های قبلی بعدها افسوس نخوریم


ghalam-doon

A suggestion for Mr. Javid

by ghalam-doon on

I suggest that he would create another topic for all the people who have a bone to pick with Hossein Derakhshan to go and say whatever they want about this guy; after all we are “in defense of free speech” and lets not kid ourselves, there are many out there who dislike this guy or don’t trust his disappearance. This topic is supposed to be a petition. Do we dislike the guy and his unorthodox opinions that much that we cannot see this simple fact?  One can simply ignore this petition and not sign it. And instead use many other means at one's disposal to express their opinions.


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If he is in jail, then who is writing his blog?

by Just Wondering (not verified) on

His blog is still going at www.i.hoder.com. If Derakhshan is in jail, who is running his blog?


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Excuse me, according to what

by Mahyar (not verified) on

Excuse me, according to what you are telling this:The Iranian blogging community is one of the largest and most vibrant in the world.
How is it possible?!?!?!
It should be an Iranian hallucination or the world has been became very small.


Souri

dear aaj sr

by Souri on

"Final question: What is the difference between jailed activists (students, writers, blogers, women activist, reporters) and Derekhshan who supports the regime while having the luxury of being free and could have make a difference by his writing?.

Whom should we support and create petition for?"

Thank you. That was also my question, when I posted first in this blog.

I said it's about our priorities and responsibilities. Do I know WHO I am supporting and WHY ?