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Mehrdad Sarjoui: Prisoner of the day

10-year prison sentence for "cooperation with enemy states"

CPJ and Kalameh: In July 2011, Mehrdad Sarjoui, who covered international news for the English-language daily Iran News and other publications, was arrested at his home and transferred to the Intelligence Ministry’s Ward 209 at Evin Prison, the BBC Persian service reported. The reformist news website Kaleme reported that he was being held in Evin Prison.

According to Kaleme, Sarjoui spent 44 days in solitary confinement after his arrest and was subjected to long interrogations during this time. In September 2011, he was informed of his charges of "espionage through publishing and analyzing articles, interviews, and news." At his trial at the Tehran Revolutionary Court on 13 November 2011, his charges were changed to "cooperation with enemy states." On 17 January, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was not allowed to have in-person visits with his family for seven months after his arrest. Mehrdad Sarjoui is now in Ward 350 of Evin Prison.

Mehrdad Sarjoui began his journalistic work in 1993. He joined Iran News, a daily English newspaper, at its inception in 1995. He wrote for the political and parliamentary sections of the newspaper and has also published articles in Farsi. In 2006, Mehrdad Sarjoui became Editor-in-Chief of Aftab News website for several months. With the increasing pressure on media, in summer of 2006, Mehrdad Sarjoui moved to a job at the government's Strategic Research Center , and worked in the Center's Public Relations and on its website, according to the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

from Ghormeh Sabzi
21-Feb-2012
Iranians of the Day | Photos
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more from Ghormeh Sabzi
 
Anahid Hojjati

Iran is number 1 at...

by Anahid Hojjati on Tue Feb 21, 2012 02:28 PM PST

Among all countries, Iran probably has highest number of imprisoned journalists. Tabreek !

Actually, I just saw that Home Page of IC has a feature about how Iran is Top of The world in jailing Journalists. thanks IC for highlighting this.


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Zendanian

Defend and Support Mehrdad Sarjoui!

by Zendanian on Tue Feb 21, 2012 02:00 PM PST

Sample Protest letter:

Please take a moment to send this protest letter or use your own version:

========================================

Free Mehrdad Sarjoui!

I (we) am (are) writing this to condemn persecution and harrasment of independent journalists in Iran.  Independent journalists in Iran are being
constantly harassed and arrested by the Iranian government authorities.
In particular, this letter is written to express my (our) serious
concern about the health and well being of Mr. Mehrdad Sarjoui who has
been  unjustly incarcerated, serving time on a  10 years sentence.

I (we) demand the immediate and unconditional
freedom of Mr. Mehrdad Sarjoui, and all other political prisoners,
and call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect the right of all
Iranians to  organize, assemble and freedom of  association and
expression.

Name:

Organization:

Position:

Send Copy of your Protest Letters to:

info@leader.ir, info@judiciary.ir, dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir; iran@un.int; ijpr@iranjudiciary.org, info@dadiran.ir, office@justice.ir, support@irimlsa.ir; info@humanrights-iran.ir


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Bavafa

Doorood bar tamame Iranian e mobarez...

by Bavafa on Tue Feb 21, 2012 08:02 AM PST

So many of Iranian conscientious  journalist who have put their principals ahead of their career are paying a high price for it.  They have helped exposing the crimes of IRI against Iranian people and they deserve our full support for their immediate and unconditional freedom.

 

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad


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