International News Group Condemns Detention Of Iranian Journalists

Emad Baghi

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has condemned the continuing imprisonment of Iranian journalist Emad Baghi and what it calls the "repressive measures employed by the state to silence critical publications."

Baghi was arrested on December 28, 2009, without charge. WAN-IFRA says he is being kept in solitary confinement in a deteriorating physical state and without access to a lawyer.

In a statement, WAN-IFRA called for the end to the arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of journalists in Iran and demanded the immediate release of Baghi and the scores of media professionals incarcerated under Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

A list maintained by RFE/RL's "Journalists In Trouble" page contains the names of 74 Iranian journalists who are currently in prison, as well as eight people who lack a formal media affiliation but who are nevertheless known and active in the field of journalism.