Press group calls for pressure on Iran to free jailed journalists
TelevisionWashington.com / WashingtonTV
19-Oct-2009

Updated: Monday, October 19, 2009

18:45GMT—2:45PM/EST

Washington,
19 October (WashingtonTV)—Reporters Without Borders [RSF] on Monday
called on the international community to press Iran to free all
imprisoned journalists, two days after Iranian-Canadian journalist
Maziar Bahari was freed on bail.

“Bahari’s
release should not divert attention from the fact that 31 other
journalists and bloggers, including [Hossein] Derakhsan, are still
detained in Iran,” the Paris-based press freedom organization said in a
statement.

Bahari, 42, was freed from Tehran’s Evin Prison on Saturday, after posting a bail of about 300 thousand dollars.

He
was arrested on 21 June, as part of the Iranian government’s efforts to
silence protests over the disputed presidential election.

“Canada
and the entire international community must redouble efforts to get the
Iranian authorities to free all the imprisoned journalists,” said
Reporters Without Borders.

Bahari
is at his mother’s home in Tehran, following his release on bail. His
family in Vancouver, Canada said that it was unclear whether the
reporter would be permitted to return home to his pregnant wife, who is
scheduled to deliver in just over a week, reports the Canadian Press.

The
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