Outrage over journalists still held in Iran

Reporters Without Borders says it is outraged that the Iranian judicial authorities are continuing to hold journalists employed by foreign news media.

They include Maziar Bahari (left), the Newsweek correspondent and acclaimed filmmaker arrested three months ago, and Fariba Pajooh, a stringer for Radio France Internationale and other media, who has spent two months in detention.

“The recent change at the head of the judicial system has not in any way modified repressive policies towards free expression,” RWB said. “The foreign media are still being targeted by the government and accused of spying. Physical and psychological pressure is being used to force their detained correspondents to make confessions.

“Like all their colleagues, Maziar Bahari and Fariba Pajooh are innocent. They are still in prison solely because they are journalists.”

Newsweek editor Jon Meacham has called for a protest inside the United Nations against the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when he makes a speech to the General Assembly today, because of the detention of Maziar Bahari.