PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
FREE MAZIAR BAHARI - [goal accomplished as of 10/17/09]!!!
  1. Signatures
    115 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. The President of the United States (+ 5 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The President of the United States
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
      • Your Governor
      • Your State Senate
      • Your State House
  2. Created By
    Andreea Tanase
    Riverside, CA
About this Petition Petition Letter

UPDATE 10/28/09: GOOD NEWS EVERYONE ! FREE AT LAST!
On October 17, the Iranian Regime let Maziar out on bail almost as suddenly as it had arrested him, and with almost as little explanation. Through his months of solitary confinement, he had never once been allowed to see a lawyer, although he was pushed in front of governement TV cameras to confess that he had inadvertenly helped to promote a "velvet revolution" against the Islamic Republic. Then, last week, just days after he walked out of Evin Prison, the regime allowed Maziar to fly to London to join his wife as she waited in the hospital to give birth after several complications. Although he is some 25 pounds lighter than when he went to prison 4 months ago, he otherwise appears in good health.  Maziar says he takes great consolation in all that was done to free him. "I was humbled by such overwhelming solidarity among my colleagues, friends, and even strangers, who all worked so hard to save me", Maziar says. Maziar was not forgotten. Not one of the 118 days he spent in prison. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 25 Iranian Journalists remain behind bars, along with countless other prisoners. We cannot forget them either.

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Mazair Bahari, 42, is a Canadian-Iranian journalist and film director that has been held captive in Tehran's Evin Prison without access to his family or a lawyer. He is a NEWSWEEK reporter, filmmaker, playwright, author, artist, and since June 21, 2009, prisoner. Nearly 300 writers, reporters, and filmmakers from more than 60 countries around the world, including several Nobel Prize winners, have put their names to petitions calling upon the Iranian government to release him. Join this diverse group of people as a testament to Mazair, and to the value of his work. Do your part, sign the petition, invite people, spread awareness, and help these innocent prisoners. The U.S. AND Iranian governments WILL hear our plea.

Recent Signatures

Maziar Bahari, wrongfully imprisoned journalist in Iran

Dear Representative

I am writing today to draw your attention respectfully to the plight of Maziar Bahari, a documentary film maker, journalist and playwright and Newsweek reporter.

Maziar Bahari is an Iranian national as well as a Canadian citizen. He has been detained without charge in Tehran since June 21st, and has not been allowed to see a lawyer or a member of his family.

Maziar is a renowned and respected filmmaker and journalist worldwide. In recent days nearly 300 top journalists, novelists, playwrights, and filmmakers from over 60 countries have signed petitions supporting him and his work, which has always been fair, objective and reasonable. It does not pose a threat to Iran's national security in any way.

He is a wonderful man, proud of his Iranian heritage, who should be celebrated, not detained. He is also the sole support of his 83-year-old mother, Molouk, who in very recent years has been widowed and lost her other son and daughter.

For a month now Maziar has been denied Canadian consular access as well as the most basic right under Iranian law: access to a lawyer. This is incomprehensible and must be rectified immediately.

In my name, and in the name of fellow supporters the world over, I am asking to bring this matter to the attention of the Iranian government, and plead for the immediate and unconditional release of Maziar Bahari. This is a human rights and criminal justice matter. Please do your part as a politician, and citizen of the United States, and help innocent prisoners like Mazair Bahari.

Please intercede in his favour and help secure his safe and speedy return to his family and friends.

We will not let up until Maziar, and others like him, are set free.

Thank you.

[Your name]

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