WiPC 2009 Resolution: Iran

The Assembly of Delegates of International PEN, meeting at its 75th International Congress in Linz, Austria, 19-25 October 2009

Noting that since 13 June 2009 many peaceful mass demonstrations have been held in cities across Iran in protest against the results of the 10th presidential election;

Concerned that the government has responded to these peaceful protests with violence leading to many deaths and injuries as well as hundreds of arrests;

Pointing out that among those detained are journalists, bloggers, students, labour activists, women's rights activists, ethnic rights and political activists. Whilst many have been released after a brief detention, over thirty writers and journalists remain detained including:

Alarmed that since President Ahmadinejad came to power in August 2005, there has been a widespread crackdown on peaceful political dissent across many aspects of civil society in Iran including against writers and journalists, academics, women's rights activists and human rights defenders;

Troubled by the Iranian government´s restrictions on foreign journalists, many of whom were forced to leave Iran following the recent unrest, and the blocking of phone and internet communications;

Concerned about the fact that the authorities still do not permit the Iranian Writers Association to have either literary sessions or their annual meeting.;

Deeply concerned at the number of Kurdish, Azeri and Arab journalists targeted for their critical reporting, peaceful activism and writings in support of minority cultural and political rights, including Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour, serving a ten-year sentence; Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand, serving 11 years, Said Matinpur serving 8 years, Mohammad Hassan Fallahiya serving 3 years.

Outraged by the suspicious death of blogger Omid Mirsayyafi in Evin prison;

Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of those currently detained in Iran in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory;

Condemning all forms of brutality by the Iranian government against people of Iran and demanding that their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are guaranteed.