Here’s an email I sent to my school for World Press Freedom Day. I will be joining the hunger strike for Roxana Saberi on May 14th.
Enjoy your day everyone.
Hi all,
Tomorrow, May 3rd, is World Press Freedom Day. At this time last year I had just been released from prison, and my translator would spend three more months in jail, cut off from the world and being tortured.
American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi is in jail right now. As you may have read, RSF and the Free Roxana campaign are organizing solidarity hunger strikes. Roxana’s alma mater, Medill (Northwestern) has passed emergency legislation urging students to write to the Iranian government.
Though it’s the end of the year and we are all busy, at least we’re not in jail. President Obama himself has confirmed Roxana is not a spy.
I urge you to read about the case and consider a solidarity hunger strike and/or writing a letter or op-ed.
I am planning to ask the student government to consider an emergency bill to express solidarity. Faculty and deans, I ask you to consider offering solidarity officially in a j-school capacity or individually.
Of course, there are many more journalists around the world who are in or have been to prison — including those held by the US in Guantanamo. Roxana’s high-profile case is a chance to bring press freedom to the fore, but there are other worthy cases as well.
Have a wonderful Press Freedom Day. Say something –Â it’s your fundamental human right.
James
