Iranian Parliament Speaker: Propaganda on Ganji far from reality

Islamic Republic News Agency:

Majlis Speaker Gholam ali Haddad Adel here Monday commented on the conditions of the jailed journalist Akbar Ganji.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar which explored ways of promoting performance of cooperative sector in the country, he said he believed the propaganda going on around his conditions was far from reality." He added, "Ganji's case is unlikely to turn into a plight and reach the point that satellite networks, databases and Mr Bush are talking about."

The Speaker forgets that the world is watching how the regime handles their crisis with Ganji.

If the regime continues to take a hard-line against Ganji, permitting him to die, it simply confirms what we have been saying, that Iran does not respect the human rights of its citizens, but is ruthless towards its critics.

If the regime caves in and permits Ganji the freedom he is demanding it will encourage others inside of Iran to demand their own freedom.