Call for release of Iranian journalist

Javad Mahzadeh

A letter to the head of Iran's judiciary signed by over fifty prominent Iranian writers and journalists urged Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani to release Javad Mahzadeh. The Iranian writer and journalist was arrested at his home a month ago and has been in detention since. So far judiciary officials have made no announcement on his charge.

The letter calls on Ayatollah Larijani to observe the legal rights of Javad Mahzadeh and take every step to secure his release.

Javad Mahzadeh is a novelist and literary critic who has also collaborated with several Iranian newspapers in the past.

In Iran numerous social and political activists have been imprisoned in the post-election events. Many still remain in prison.

On November 5th, Reporters Without Borders announced that in less the 150 days following the post-election unrest in Iran at least 100 journalists and bloggers have been arrested in Iran. They maintain at least 23 of these journalists are still in prison and 50 have had to leave the country.