PEN Canada and CJFE call for help for Hossein Derakhshan from the Canadian government
IFEX (International Freedom of Expression Campaign) / PEN/Canadian Journalists Free Expression
11-Nov-2010 (one comment)

(CJFE/PEN Canada/IFEX) - Canadian media organisations are writing to Prime Minister Harper about concerns for the Canadian-Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan:

November 8, 2010

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

We are writing to share with you our deep concerns about the recent trial and sentencing in Iran of the Canadian-Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan…. PEN Canada and CJFE, joined by the Book and Periodical Council, The Canadian Association of Journalists, the Canadian Newspaper Association, the Canadian Publishers' Council, the Professional Writers Association of Canada, The Writers' Union of Canada and the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom are calling on the Canadian government to take a strong leadership role 

...Since the government crackdown following the disputed 2009 elections, CPJ reports that at least 37 journalists are currently imprisoned there and several have been placed under "immense physical and psychological pressire …We have been concerned for several years about the treatment of journalists in Iran. In 2003, the Canadian-Iranian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi was arrested for photographing a protest and died after being detained at Evin prison. Last year, the Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari, while reporting for Newsweek magazine in Iran, was also detained in Evin for four months... >>>
DelilahNY

Something you can do to help, too

by DelilahNY on Thu Nov 11, 2010 09:36 AM PST

Many agree that it is very important to pressure the Canadian government. Here is the recent PEN Canada petition :

//iranian.com/main/news/2010/10/30/free-hossein-derakhshan

but it is much more effective to also send individual letters and faxes to the authorities. The Canadian PM's address and fax are given in this letter by PEN Canada/CJFE. I found a couple of things a little strange: that the letter does not mention the 19.5 year sentence; and that toward the end it asks Canada to pressure for unconditional release but. in the following paragraph, for the right to appeal--in a way I found unclear. Be that as it may,. the letter's salient points can serve as a model for your own letter.  Non-Canadians, don't be shy.

Here is the joint statement to IRI from the French and Iranian governments, which the letter refers to. It was issued October 20th:

//citizenlab.org/2010/10/joint-declaration-by-canada-and-france/

Here is further information on Canada's potential role in Hoder's case (see also links on thread).

//iranian.com/main/news/2010/09/30/could-canada-help-release-hossein-derakhshan

 



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