Akbar Ganji (Persian: اکبر گنجی , born 31 January 1960 in Qazvin) is an Iranian journalist and writer. He was arrested on April 22, 2000 after he took part in a conference held in Berlin on April 7 and 8, 2000. He was imprisoned in Evin Prison in Tehran until his release on March 18, 2006. [1] He holds a Masters degree in Communications. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Shortcut: WP:NPOVD Articles that have been linked to this page are the subject of an NPOV dispute (NPOV stands for Neutral Point Of View; see below). ... “Farsi” redirects here. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Qazvin (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation). ... A writer is anyone who creates a written work, although the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the capital of Germany. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year (99th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Evin Prison (زندان اوین) is a prison in Iran, located in the north of Tehran. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The term communications is used in a number of disciplines: Communications, also known as communication studies is the academic discipline which studies communication, generally seen as a mixture between media studies and linguistics. ...

He is the winner of the 2006 World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom Award [2] and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression's International Press Freedom Award in 2000. He is also the winner of the 2006 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. [3] The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) is an International organization that groups 72 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 100 nations, 13 news agencies, and nine regional press organisations. ... The Golden Pen of Freedom Award is a prestigious International Journalism award, offered by the World Association of Newspapers. ... Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is a Canadian non-governmental organization supported by Canadian journalists and advocates of free expression. ... The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders was created in 1983 to honour individuals around the world who demonstrate exceptional courage in defending and promoting human rights. ...

Imprisonment

Growing up in a poor district of southern Tehran, Ganji was initially enthused by the 1979 Revolution. He became a member of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and worked at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. But after becoming disillusioned with the regime, he took to journalism, becoming increasingly critical of the regime's suppression of human rights. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Ganji took part in a conference in Berlin held by Heinrich Boell Foundation under the title "Iran after the elections" held in the wake of the Majlis elections of February 2000 which resulted in a huge victory by reformist candidates. The gathering was termed "anti-Islamic" and "anti-revolutionary" by Iranian state TV, IRIB, which broadcast part of the conference on April 18, 2000. He was accused of having "damaged national security" and initially sentenced to ten years followed by five years internal exile, which meant he would be kept in a specific city other than Tehran and could not leave the country. On May 15, 2001 an appeal court reduced his 10-year sentence to six months and overturned his additional sentence of five years' internal exile. However, the Tehran prosecutor, challenged the appeal court decision and brought new charges against him in connection with newspaper articles he had written prior to April 2000, and his possession of photocopies of foreign newspapers. On July 16, 2001 he was sentenced to six years imprisonment on charges of "collecting confidential information harmful to national security and spreading propaganda against the Islamic system". Ganji was on a hunger strike for more than 80 days from May 19, 2005 until early August, 2005 [4] except for a 12-day period of leave he was granted on May 30, 2005 ahead of the ninth presidential elections on June 17, 2005. His hunger strike was ended under unknown conditions and heavy security and information quarantine in Milad hospital in Tehran while many feared his death. He is represented by a group of lawyers, including Dr. Yousef Molaei, Abdolfattah Soltani (who was arrested and put in solitary confinement in 2005 on unknown charges), and the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Shirin Ebadi. While on hunger strike Ganji wrote two letters to the free people of the world: 1 2. Image:DSC--Majlis5323. ... 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December This is a timeline for events in February, 2000. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... IRIB is based in northern Tehran, adjacent to Mellat Park, where almost all studios and offices are centered at. ... is the 108th day of the year (109th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt or to achieve a goal such as a policy change. ... is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 150th day of the year (151st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Iranian presidential election of 2005, the ninth presidential election in Iranian history, took place in two rounds, first on June 17, 2005, and then as a run-off on June 24. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lester B. Pearson after accepting the Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize (Swedish and Norwegian: Nobels fredspris) is the name of one of five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel. ... Shirin Ebadi at a press conference in November 2005. ...

On July 12, 2005 the White House press secretary Scott McClellan said in a statement that President George W. Bush called on Iran to release Ganji "immediately and unconditionally… Mr. Ganji is sadly only one victim of a wave of repression and human rights violations engaged in by the Iranian regime… His calls for freedom deserve to be heard. His valiant efforts should not go in vain. The president calls on all supporters of human rights and freedom, and the United Nations, to take up Ganji's case and the overall human rights situation in Iran… Mr. Ganji, please know that as you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you," the statement went on. is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Scott McClellan in the press room of the White House Puffy McMoonface (born February 14, 1968) was the White House Press Secretary (2003-2006) for President George W. Bush. ... For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ...

In his recent leave in June 2005 Ganji participated in interviews with several news agencies, criticizing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and asking for his office to be put to public vote [5]. This led to a ruling by Saeed Mortazavi, the general prosecutor of Tehran, to arrest him again because of "illegal interviews". He returned to prison voluntarily on June 11, 2005 and started this latest hunger strike. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (Persian: آیت‌الله سید علی خامنه‌ای) (born July 15, 1939) is the Iran. ... The post of Supreme Leader (Persian: رهبر انقلاب, Rahbare Enqelab,[1] lit. ... Saeed Mortazavi (سعید مرتضوی in Persian) is as of 2003 the general prosecutor of Tehran. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ganji was released from prison in poor health on March 18, 2006, after serving the full term of his six-year sentence, according to his family and various count-downs set up on many Iranian weblogs. At the same time, the deputy prosecutor of Tehran, Mahmoud Salarkia, claimed that 10 days remained from his sentence due to unaccounted days of absence, and that he had been granted a leave for the (Persian) new year. The claim has apparently been dropped since.

Writings

Akbar Ganji and Richard Rorty

He has written extensively as a journalist in a series of reformist newspapers, many of which were shut down by the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Collections of his articles appeared in books, notably, "The Dungeon of Ghosts" and "The Red Eminence, The Grey Eminences" focusing on the involvement of the former President of Iran, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and his Ministry of Intelligence, Ali Fallahian, in a series of killings of writers and dissidents. He has continued to write in prison. His writings in prison are smuggled out and widely distributed, especially on the web. Most notably he wrote a Republican Manifesto in six chapters in March 2002 laying out the basis of his proposal for a fully-fledged democratic republic for Iran. In particular he argued that all elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran must be boycotted. He later wrote a second book [6] of his Republican Manifesto in May 2005, ahead of the ninth Presidential elections in Iran, specifically arguing for a complete boycott of the presidential elections. Image File history File links Ganji_visit. ... Image File history File links Ganji_visit. ... The President of Iran is the head of government. ... Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (Persian: اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی Akbar HāshemÄ« RafanjānÄ«), Hashemi Bahramani (هاشمی بهرمانی) born on August 25, 1934, is an influential Iranian politician, and is currently serving as the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran. ... The Ministry of Intelligence (وزارت اطلاعات), is the primary intelligence agency of Iran. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...

Islamic Republics "democratic" voice

In 2006, Akbar Ganji started a tour to visit world leading philosophers, theorists, human right activists. His goal has been said to be introducing Iranian intellectual movements and democratic circles to world leading thinkers. He met many famous figures as Richard Rorty (American philosopher), Noam Chomsky, Anthony Giddens, David Hild and Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, world-famous sociologist and theorist of civilizations. A philosopher is a person who thinks deeply regarding people, society, the world, and/or the universe. ... Richard McKay Rorty (October 4, 1931 in New York City – June 8, 2007) was an American philosopher. ... Avram Noam Chomsky (Hebrew :אברם נועם חומסקי Yiddish: אברם נועם כאמסקי) (born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher, political activist, author, and lecturer. ... Image needed Anthony Giddens, Baron Giddens (born January 18, 1938) is a British sociologist who is renowned for his theory of structuration and his holistic view of modern societies. ... Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt (b. ...

While in the United States in July 2006, Ganji declined an invitation to meet with White House officials, citing his belief that current US policies were not helping promote democracy in Iran. He was quoted as saying, "You cannot bring democracy to a country by attacking it". He also added that the war in Iraq was promoting Islamic fundamentalism and hurting movements towards democracy in the region.

Ganji declared that his role was as a dissident and journalist, rather than the official voice for a specific opposition party or faction within Iran, which he explained was one reason for his refusal to meet with American political leaders and officeholders.

During his visit he criticized the Iraq war, asserting that rather than undermining the current Iranian regime it had instead bolstered its capacity to repress and terrorize its population. We do not want the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, this is our problem. Any intervention by any foreign power would bring charges of conspiracy against us... What has happened in Iraq did not support our movement in any significant way.[7]

He also staged a hunger strike outside of United Nations headquarters in order to highlight the plight of Iranian political prisoners, and to bring international attention to the oppressive conditions felt within Iran.

Awards and honors

Dissident Iranian university professor Hashem Aghajari(L) shaking hand with Akbar Ganji(R) holds the award from the Association of Iranian Journalists which he accepted on behalf of journalist Massoud Behnoud for his activities in support of freedom of the press in Tehran, Iran May 3, 2006. Aghajari, whose death sentence for apostasy sparked riots in Iran, accepted the prize for Behnoud who has left Iran since his release from prison.

• PEN America, Honorary member (2000)
• Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, International Press Freedom Award (2000)
• The Middle East Studies Association of North America, MESA Academic Freedom Prize (2005)
• Press Freedom Award, Italy (2005)
• World Association of Newspapers, Golden Pen of Freedom (2006)
• Honorary citizen of the city of Florence, Italy (2006)
• Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (2006)
• National Press Club, John Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award (2006)

Image File history File links Aghajari-ganji. ... Image File history File links Aghajari-ganji. ... For other uses, see Pen (disambiguation). ... Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is a Canadian non-governmental organization supported by Canadian journalists and advocates of free expression. ... The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) is an International organization that groups 72 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 100 nations, 13 news agencies, and nine regional press organisations. ... The Golden Pen of Freedom Award is a prestigious International Journalism award, given annually by the World Association of Newspapers to individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the defence and promotion of press freedom. ... Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Martin Ennals (1927 - 1991) was a British human rights activist. ...

See also

• Defenders of Human Rights Center
• History of political Islam in Iran
• Human rights in Islamic Republic of Iran
• 2nd of Khordad Movement
• Saeed Hajjarian
• Abdolkarim Soroush
• Abbas Amir-Entezam
• Mehrangiz Kar

Defenders of Human Rights Center Defenders of Human Rights Center (also known as the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights, Persian: کانون مدافعان حقوق بشر ) is Irans leading human rights organization. ... This article addresses the roots and the developmental history of Islamic fundamentalism in Iran. ... Hundreds of Iranian newspapers were shut down during the last decade. ... Second of Khordad Movement refers to a movement started by 6th presidental election in Iran. ... Hajjarian, a former secret agent, was widely believed to be the main strategist behind the 1997 reform movement of Iran Hajjarian was shot in the head on the doorsteps of Tehran city council in March 2000 Hajjarian escaped almost certain death, but he has been paralyzed for life. ... Image:Soroush. ... Abbas Amir-Entezam(in Persian: عباس امیر انتظام) was the spokesman and the secretary of the Interim Cabinet of Mehdi Bazargan in 1979. ... Mehrangiz Kar(Born 1944 Ahvaz Iran) is a prominent Iranian lawyer, human right activist and author. ...

External links

• Release Ganji! Campaign, a portal for news on Akbar Ganji and efforts for releasing him
• Akbar Ganji, a PEN article on the status of Akbar Ganji
• CJFE Calls for Ganji's Release
• Ganji and other dissidents silenced ahead of elections, IFEX
• 113 Iranian Academics Urge Ayatollah Shahroudi to Take Action for Ganji's Release
• Free Ganji, a weblog dedicated to the translation of Akbar Ganji's writings and his freedom.
• Ganji in hunger strike, Human Rights Watch: Leading Dissident’s Life in Danger.
• Letter to the free people of the world written by Akbar Ganji on the 19th day of hunger strike
• Iran: Radio Farda Interview With Dissident Akbar Ganji
• Second Letter written on the 30th day of hunger strike
• BBC profile
• Iran activist 'snubs White House' BBC article on Ganji declining a White House invitation
• Ganji's Next Strike Likely at U.N.
• What nuclear adventurism? Kaveh Afrasiabi's Letter to Akbar Ganji, Iranian.com, October 3, 2006.
• Akbar Ganji speaking at Columbia University, March 7, 2007.
• The View from Tehran from May/June 2007 Boston Review
• Regime intelligence official admits to fabricating opposition figuresAugust 13, 2007
• Open letter to Akbar Ganji July 25, 2005