W.House urges release of jailed Iran journalist

Reuters, Washington Post:

The White House on Tuesday expressed solidarity with jailed Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji, who is on a hunger strike, and urged human rights groups and the United Nations to push for his release.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan also said in a statement that President Bush was concerned about the health of Ganji, an outspoken critic of the Islamic state's clerical leadership who was jailed for alleging links between officials and the murders of political dissidents.

"Through his now monthlong hunger strike, Mr. Ganji is demonstrating that he is willing to die for his right to express his opinion," McClellan said.

"President Bush is saddened by recent reports that Mr. Ganji's health has been failing and deeply concerned that the Iranian government has denied him access to his family, medical treatment and legal representation," he added.

The statement also had a message for Ganji that "America stands with you." READ MORE

The statement came after about 150 people held a demonstration in Tehran calling for Ganji's release. A Reuters journalist saw police beat several of the protesters.

McClellan said the United Nations and human rights groups should "take up Ganji's case and the overall human rights situation in Iran."

He said Iran should release Ganji unconditionally from his six-year jail sentence.

Ganji's family and lawyers say he is suffering from poor health and needs medical treatment outside prison. They say he has been on a hunger strike for more than 30 days.

Iranian judiciary officials say Ganji is in good health and is not on a hunger strike.

Reuters loves to under report the size of demonstrations inside of Iran. The reports I am receiving indicated thousands (perhaps as large as 6,000) demostrators. But it is encouraging to the Iranian people people that the President of the United States is concerned about dissidents liks Ganji. I have heard unconfirmed reports that Ganji died today, but rumors are rampant inside of Iran.