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Today I received an e-mail from Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting about an article published by by University of Southern California professor Sandy Tolan, who examines why the detention of Pulitzer Center journalist Iason Athanasiadis is a "breach of Iranian hospitality."
Pulitzer tells me that, "Iason...comes from that breed of journalist in pursuit of something beyond just 'the story.' To work in Iran, he learned Farsi; to understand its people, he lived with them for three years. His work, as a writer and photojournalist, reflects deep empathy with the Iranian people, an understanding of their historical legacy, and an analysis of the changes swirling around them."
Iason was arrested in Iran on June 17. He remains in Iranian custody. Read earlier posts on Iason's case here and view his work with the Pulitzer Center in Iran, Turkey and Greece.
SEEKING HELP
According to Reporters Without Borders on 2 July 2009 - "Intelligence ministry bans meeting of journalists-
The authorities banned a meeting of journalists that the Association of Iranian Journalists had called for today to protest -against the arrests of journalists and against the military and security climate now reigning in the country- The association sent the invitations out last week.
The association sent a second message telling journalists that the meeting had been cancelled for their own safety. The message also urged the judicial authorities, especially the Tehran prosecutor general, to respect the law and to change their practices as regards journalists and the news"
So if you as a journalist want to help our fellow journalists doing their courageous job in Iran and elsewhere, please go to " http://www.rsf.org/ or to "Foreign Correspondents Club of Facebook" where one of its members is asking anyone on twitter to:
Set your location to Tehran and your time zone to GMT +3.30. Security forces are hunting for bloggers using location/timezone searches. The more people at this location, the more of a logjam it creates for forces trying to shut Iranians' access to the Internet down. Cut & paste & please pass this on. Or simply write freedom of speech on the Internet and you will see other organizations that help journalists.
This is not the first time I write on the incredible breach of confidence given to reporters worldwide; oppressors and predators of journalists know the power of the "spoken or written word". I am afraid it will not be the last.
We do not have guns, but boy are they ever afraid of those of us who dare say the truth. Please give us a hand, join the world of free thinkers, help our fellow reporters and journalists worldwide; in Cuba, Iran, North Korea and the list is so long. Reporters Without Borders tell us that there are 26 journalist killed, 169 journalist, 9 media assistants, and 70 cyberdissidents imprisoned.
In fact the situation has worsen so much that Reporters Without Borders now has a 24 hour hotline for journalists in danger:
"SOS Presse, a phone hotline for journalists - (33) 1 4777-7414 - is open every day round the clock and, with the help of American Express, a Reporters Without Borders official can be quickly reached."
Again and again, without their daring approach the world would not know what is going on.
