Friday 16 April 2010

Iranian journalist wins RWB prize for blog


Iranian blogger-journalist Jila Bani Yaghoob has been awarded the "Reporters Without Borders, Freedom of Expression” prize for her blog  “We are journalists”.
RWB said: “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”.
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 asIranian President.
RWB has named Iran as an “Internet enemy” stating: "A champion of cyber-censorship, the Iranian regime has stepped up online repression and surveillance since 12 June 2009. The regime demonises new media, accusing them of serving foreign interests. Forty journalists, bloggers and netizens are currently behind bars."

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