Six more Nobel laureates join call for Akbar Ganji's release

Reporters Without Borders:

Six more Nobel laureates have signed a petition calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji, bringing the total number of Nobel laureates to have signed the petition to 14. It was launched by Shirin Ebadi of Iran, the winner of the Nobel peace prize in 2003.

"The involvement of these 14 figures who are known and admired throughout the world, testifies to the breadth of the movement of solidarity with Akbar Ganji," Reporters Without Borders said. "Even though we are asking Ganji to call off his hunger strike, that does not been we are ceasing to demand his release."

The six latest Nobel signatories are :

John B. Fenn of the United States, 2002 Nobel prize for chemistry
Walter Kohn of the United States, 1998 Nobel prize for chemistry
George A. Olah of the United States, 1994 Nobel prize for chemistry
Pierre-Gilles de Gennes of France, 1991 Nobel prize for physics
Jerome I. Friedman of the United States, 1990 Nobel prize for physics
Dudley R. Herschbach of the United States, 1986 Nobel prize for chemistry READ MORE

The 14 Nobel signatories consist of six holders of the Nobel peace prize, four holders of the Nobel prize for chemistry, three holders of the Nobel prize for physics and one holder of the Nobel prize for economics.

Reporters Without Borders hails this extraordinary show of support from American and French scientists, which serves as reminder to the international community of the importance of free expression.

Ganji today began his 59th day on hunger.