Reporters Without Borders keeps on getting requests for help
from terrified Iranian journalists who have been forced to flee their country
after receiving summonses from the authorities. With 32 of their colleagues now
detained in Iran and with a president and a Supreme Leader bent on suppressing
all criticism, around 30 journalists have fled since last June's disputed
elections.
"This is the biggest exodus of journalists since the 1979
revolution," Reporters Without Borders said. "Describing news media as 'means
used in an attempt to overthrow the state', the regime is ridding itself of
undesired witnesses by jailing them or getting them to flee. Photographers,
cameramen, bloggers and reporters for newspapers that have been closed down –
all are being accused of 'acting against national security'."
The press freedom organisation added: "The luckiest are able to
get to Europe or the United States, but most have to expose themselves to great
danger by fleeing with the help of smugglers. In the countries where they seek
refuge – Turkey, Iraq or even Afghanistan – they are exposed to more harassment
and police surveillance. The provisions of the 1951 Geneva Convention are
ill-suited for such an emergency. European countries must open their doors to
these journalists and support free expression in Iran."
As well as the human tragedy, the exodus of Iranian journalists increases the
risk of a complete news blackout in Iran. News and information have become
synonymous with repression. One Iranian journalist had to flee because she told
the BBC about Neda Aghasoltani, the young woman who in death became a symbol of
opposition to the regime. Another journalist, a photographer, fled after one of
his photos was used prominently by the international media. A third had to leave
after talking about the situation of detainees in his blog.
A voice for those who have been silenced
It is vital to support initiatives being undertaken by Iranian
reporters and photographers with a view to expressing their views and putting
out information. Reporters Without Borders has helped launch a website, The Iranian
Journalists, which is a multimedia platform for disseminating
information about the media and journalists, and for collecting articles, photos
and videos provided by journalists themselves.
Reporters Without Borders, which published a Handbook for
Exiled Journalists last June, has been in repeated contact with the UN
refugee agency and with western embassies about the plight of these journalists.
It is also providing urgent financial assistance to these men and women who are
paying a high price for their determination to do their job.
Ali Zare, a photographer who was arrested and
tortured by militiamen and police for 48 hours in a location that he was unable
to identify, has described to Reporters Without Borders how detainees are
mistreated. See his story on our website.
