Committee to Protect Journalists Calls for Immediate Release of Abadan Journalist
The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement on Wednesday, June 1st, calling on the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Arash Qalehgolab, an independent journalist.
According to the statement, Mr. Qalehgolab was arrested on Thursday, May 26th, in the city of Abadan by government officials who beat him, and he has remained imprisoned since then until the day the statement was released.
According to reports, Iran’s representation at the United Nations in New York has refused to respond to an email from the Committee to Protect Journalists on this matter.
Justin Shilad, Senior Researcher for the Middle East and North Africa Section of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said on this matter: “Iranian authorities should understand that they cannot hide the difficult realities and problems of the country [Iran] by silencing and imprisoning journalists.” According to him, “Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Arash Qalehgolab, an independent journalist, and stop the arbitrary imprisonment of media professionals.”
The committee writes, citing informed sources, that Mr. Qalehgolab writes interpretations and articles for various publications, and recently one of his writings was published by the government news website Ensaaf News.
Previously, the Campaign to Defend Political and Civil Prisoners announced, citing an informed source, that Mr. Qalehgolab suffers from asthma and diabetes, which has increased concern among his family members.
The Iranian Writers Association also expressed concern in recent days by issuing a statement about the detention of Arash Qalehgolab, a poet and journalist from Abadan, and held the security apparatus responsible for the lives of those detained during the protests against the collapse of the “Metropol.”
Source: Voice of America
