Journalist - Prisoner Or Hero?

PR Log (Press Release) – Sep 17, 2009 – An Iran journalist has been in solitary confinement for three weeks, in Tehran’s Evin Prison. Fariba Pajouh had been writing her personal views on her blog ‘Beyond The Rain’.

Pajouh was arrested at her family’s home by agents from Iran’s intelligence ministry on the first day of Ramadan. Her father fears that Pajouh is under heavy pressure to confess to indecent conduct, a charge commonly brought against female prisoners. Opposition protesters are expected to take to the streets on the one day of the year set aside in Iran for public protests against Israel.

In Afghanistan, journalist, Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, 24 has been pardoned and released from jail.

In 2007 Kambakhsh was arrested and sentenced to die for downloading an analysis of what the Koran says about women, from the Internet. That sentence was altered to 20 years by an appeals court in October 2008. The sentence was again upheld in a further appeal in March. Now Kambakhsh has been granted a pardon by President Hamid Karzai.

The Iraqi journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi, who threw his size 10 shoe during George Bush’s last visit to Iraq, shouted “This is your farewell kiss you dog. This is for the widows and orphans of Iraq.” Zaidi had prepared himself to die, expecting to receive an American bullet. He always felt he would be killed either by al-Qaeda or the Americans.

Political pressure was applied to remove a large statue of the shoe that was erected not long after the incident. After 9 months in prison, Iraq is preparing a hero’s welcome home for Zaidi, in spite of the Iraq government having been embarrassed by the incident.

Zaidi received a three year sentence. This was reduced to one year on appeal, because he had no criminal record and released three months early because of good behaviour.

A new four-bedroom house has been built by his former boss, Abdul-Hamid al-Sayah, manager of the Cairo-based station. A new car is ready for Zaidi, plus pledges of harems, as money and health care offers pour into his ex-employers and the al-Baghdadia television channel. Zaidi has declined offers of a career in politics.

“The Emir of Qatar promised a golden horse, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi (of Libya) said he would award him Libya's highest honour,” reported Dargham, Zaidi’s brother.

Editor Abdul Hamid al-Saij said, “One Iraqi who lives in Morocco called to offer to send his daughter to be the wife of Zaidi". Another phoned from Saudi Arabia offering $10 million for his shoes. Calls continue to pour in with offers of marriage to the hero.

Zaidi has lost teeth, has two broken ribs and a broken foot has not healed. Zaidi’s brother said, “He will stay in Iraq, but first he has to leave the country to get his health fixed.” He alleges Zaidi was tortured by prison officials.

Zaidi is planning to open an orphanage when he leaves prison, and interested in working in a humanitarian organization, or becoming an activist for women’s and orphan’s rights.