Iranian of the Day

Reporters Without Borders: Iranian blogger, journalist and women’s rights activist Jila Bani Yaghoob was awarded the "Reporters Without Borders, Freedom of expression” prize for her blog “We are journalists” at the sixth international “Best of the Blogs” event held in Berlin by German radio Deutsche Welle from 13 to 15 April.

“Her Persian-language blog deals with the news in Iran, social issues and the subject of women. Jila is in the forefront of the struggle for freedom of expression in her country. She and her family have already paid a high price for her commitment. Reporters Without Borders is proud to award her this prize and through her pay tribute to all Iranian bloggers and journalists who have been arrested, imprisoned for driven into exile these past months”, the organisation said.

Jila Bani Yaghoob and her husband Bahaman Ahamadi Amoee were arrested on 20 June 2009 with around 20 other journalists during demonstrations that followed the contested re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iranian president. She was freed on 24 August but her husband was sentenced to five years in prison. In an open letter posted on Reporters Without Borders website, Jila promises her husband to “turn sorrow into power”. He is currently out of prison on licence for a few days >>>