Protesters in Iran yesterday (file photo)
13 July 2005 (RFE/RL) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has called on the Iranian authorities to release jailed journalist Akbar Ganji, who has been on a hunger strike for the past month.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement that Bush is saddened by reports that Ganji's health has been failing and concerned that the Iranian government has denied Ganji access to his family, medical treatment, and legal representation.
The statement said that "America stands" with Ganji.
The statement added that the United States calls on the United Nations and human rights groups to address Ganji's case and the overall human rights situation in Iran.
Earlier on 11 July outside Tehran University, Iranian students protesting Ganji's imprisonment clashed with police seeking to disperse their demonstration.
Ganji was sentenced to six years in jail in 2000 for writing articles linking Iranian government officials to the 1998 murders of political dissidents.
(Reuters/AP/AFP)
See also:
Concern Grows Over Fate Of Jailed Journalist
The statement said that "America stands" with Ganji.
The statement added that the United States calls on the United Nations and human rights groups to address Ganji's case and the overall human rights situation in Iran.
Earlier on 11 July outside Tehran University, Iranian students protesting Ganji's imprisonment clashed with police seeking to disperse their demonstration.
Ganji was sentenced to six years in jail in 2000 for writing articles linking Iranian government officials to the 1998 murders of political dissidents.
(Reuters/AP/AFP)
See also:
Concern Grows Over Fate Of Jailed Journalist