Reporters sans frontires - Iran: "Six more Nobel laureates join call for Akbar Ganji's release"

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

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.


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04.08.2005 Eight Nobel laureates call for Akbar Ganji's release

Reporters Without Borders today hailed a petition calling for the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji which was launched by Iran's 2003 Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi and which has already been signed by seven other Nobel laureates.

"Iran's most senior officials must heed this very clear message from eight world figures who have made outstanding contributions to peace and science," the organisation said, going on to appeal to foreign diplomats based in Tehran to visit Ganji at Milad hospital, where he was taken on 17 July.

Until now, Iran's government and judicial authorities have refused to heed the calls for the release of Ganji, who has been imprisoned for five years and who is continuing the hunger strike he began 54 days ago.

If the international community does not react, Ganji is going to die.

The eight Nobel laureates who have already signed the petition are :

Shirin Ebadi of Iran, holder of the 2003 Nobel peace prize

John Hume of the United Kingdom, holder of the 1998 Nobel peace prize

Jody Williams of the United States, holder of the 1997 Nobel peace prize

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, holder of the 1984 Nobel peace prize

Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Ireland, holder of the 1976 Nobel peace prize

Betty Williams of Ireland, holder of the 1976 Nobel peace prize

Maurice Allais of France, holder of the 1988 Nobel prize for economics

Georges Charpak of France, holder of the 1992 Nobel prize for physics

sign the petition