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Cdn NDP Leader Jack Layton calls for release of Bahari in Iran

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | July 12, 2009 at 03:05 pm

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Maziar Bahari, a Canadian journalist born in Iran, was picked up at his house on June 21st and has been held in custody since then. This was when the anti-election results protests were at their peak.

Newsweek claims that Mr. Bahari has been detained since then without charges. Bahari was one of at least 24 journalists arrested during these protests.

This morning Jack Layton, the leader of the New Democratic Party in Canada, has called on the Canadian Government to take immediate action to secure Mr. Bahari's release.

Layton is demanding that the Canadian government send a high profile delegation to Iran to secure this release.

This author wonders if Iran is receiving any foreign visitors at this time.

Here is the original story on Maziar Bahari's' arrest

NDP leader Jack Layton is calling on the federal Conservatives to take immediate action to secure the release of a Canadian-Iranian journalist held in Iran since June.

Mr. Layton is holding a news conference this morning at the downtown Toronto home of Maziar Bahari.

Mr. Bahari, who is a correspondent for Newsweek, was one of at least 24 journalists and bloggers arrested in the aftermath of Iran's disputed election.

The U.S. publication has said Mr. Bahari was “detained without charge” by Iranian authorities in Tehran on June 21.

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Uwe Paschen

at 16:20 on July 12th, 2009

Well, he may call. I am not sure they listen though.

Then again it may help, one never knows.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 16:24 on July 12th, 2009

I have no problem with the Canadian Government trying to put pressure on Iran. I am sure they already have through the embassy. I don.t think the Iranian government has any interest of listening to a country that condemned their action and called their election a fraud.

I also doubt very much that they even consider Bahari a Canadian. He probably holds dual citizenship. I also doubt that Iran is receiving foreign visitors right now :)