A group of political, cultural and student activist gathered in front of Akbar Ganji's house in Tehran on the night of Saturday July 30 and held a candlelight vigil. They read poems, prayed for Ganji and demanded his release.

According to the report by Iranian Students News Agency (original in Persian), this gathering was held at the invitation of the university students organization Office for Strengthening Unity.

During this gathering, poets Simin Behbahani, Yazdanpanah, Raouf Taheri, Bordbar and Reza Ansari recited poems.

Also, the participants lighted candles, sang songs and demanded freedom for all political prisoners. Among the participants were the following: Abbas Amir-Entezam, Mousavi Khoeini, Fatehemh Haghighatjou, Rajabali Mazrouei, Zohreh Aghajari, and Ali Afahsri.

Ganji's wife, Massoumeh Shafiei, told the crowd that she is coming from Ganji's visit. She then described Ganji's physical condition as poor but said he is in good mental shape. She pointed that many officials and political figures are intervening for Ganji's freedom and said she is hopeful that her husband will be freed soon.

... Payvand News - 8/1/05 ... --