We are petitioning for the release of the award-winning Canadian-Iranian filmmaker, playwright, editor, journalist and Newsweek reporter, Maziar Bahari.
Maziar was doing his job as a journalist and covering the presidential elections fairly and judiciously when he was arrested on June 21st 2009.
Maziar has been held as a prisoner in Iran since then. No charges have been brought against him and he remains isolated from the rest of the world with no access to a lawyer or to his family.
Maziar Bahari is a kind and caring man of integrity who is renowned for his consistently balanced work. We believe that a strong protest from the public will help release Maziar.
Please sign this petition and forward it to others for their signature.
THE PETITION
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Justice Ministry
Pazdah-Khordad (Ark) Square
Tehran, Iran
Your Excellency:
I am writing today to draw your attention respectfully to the plight of Maziar Bahari, a documentary film maker, journalist and playwright and Newsweek reporter.
Maziar Bahari is an Iranian national as well as a Canadian citizen. He has been detained without charge in Tehran since June 21st, and has not been allowed to see a lawyer or a member of his family.
Maziar is a renowned and respected filmmaker and journalist worldwide. In recent days nearly 300 top journalists, novelists, playwrights, and filmmakers from over 60 countries have signed petitions supporting him and his work, which has always been fair, objective and reasonable. It does not pose a threat to Iran's national security in any way.
He is a wonderful man, proud of his Iranian heritage, who should be celebrated, not detained. He is also the sole support of his 83-year-old mother, Molouk, who in very recent years has been widowed and lost her other son and daughter.
For a month now Maziar has been denied Canadian consular access as well as the most basic right under Iranian law: access to a lawyer. This is incomprehensible and must be rectified immediately.
In my name, and in the name of fellow supporters the world over, I am asking for the immediate and unconditional release of Maziar Bahari.
Please intercede in his favour and help secure his safe and speedy return to his family and friends.
We will not let up until Maziar is set free.
Thank you.
If you would like to sign the petition, please go to www.freemaziarbahari.org.