Letter: Editor under arrest in Iran
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Your support makes all the difference.Sir: We would like to draw your readers' attention to the plight of Faraj Sarkoohi, chief editor of the Iranian literary review Adineh.
Mr Sarkoohi was arrested for demanding freedom of expression in Iran. He was held in detention for several months before being charged with espionage. We have now received unconfirmed reports that he has been sentenced to death. Mr Sarkoohi's situation is extremely critical and we urge that international pressure be brought to bear on the Iranian authorities to release him, immediately and unconditionally.
Given the President Elect's positive campaign in the recent presidential election and his promises to uphold freedom of expression and human rights in Iran we believe international pressure for Mr Sarkoohi's case would help to save his life.
SYBILLE BEDFORD
LADY RACHEL BILLINGTON
President Elect, English Centre of International PEN
MORIS FARHI
Chairman, Writers in Prison Committee, English PEN
LADY ANTONIA FRASER
RONALD HARWOOD
President, International PEN
FRANCIS KING
Vice President, International PEN
HAROLD PINTER
JOSEPHINE PULLEIN-THOMPSON
President, English Centre of International PEN
BERNICE RUBENS
TOM STOPPARD
RALEIGH TREVELYAN
FAY WELDON
and 38 others
The English Centre of International PEN
London SW3
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