Today I will blog alot, when I get home from work I will hit the Iraq' update...

but for now I want to bring to your attention something sinister from outside Iraq... In neighbouring Iran, 20 bloggers have been taken captive by the government in an attempt to create internet-censorship.

Now it is getting to the point where one particular case, which has been dragging on over years now, is coming towards a catastrophic end... The blogger, Mojtaba Saminejad

see:
http://committeetoprotectbloggers.blogspot.com/2005/02/more-details-on-mojtabas-arrest.html

has felt his right and life so threatened he has decided to go on hunger-strike, and as a sign of respect some bloggers (myself included), are dedicating next thursday to his case and sympathy --- see the below quote from an email from
"COMMITTEE TO PROTECT BLOGGERS "

"Devote next Thursday to an expression of sympathy for an innocent who has been unjustly detained. Observe a fast on your blog for Mojtaba, linking to this page. Those among us who are healthy and so inclined might consider an actual day-long fast. When asked why, tell your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers about Mojtaba. "

If you want to help immediately,

write to the following people, requesting Mojtaba be given a pardon and unconditional, immediate release and that, in the meantime, he be transferred to a less violent facility.







Outside the U.S., you can contact either the Permanent Representative to the United Nations or the Iranian ambassador in your own country. Here is the page on the Interest Section website that lists some of Iran's embassies around the world.

http://www.daftar.org/Eng/otherinfo_eng.asp?lang=eng



Finally, contact directly the people responsible for Mojtaba’s detention.

Leader of the Islamic Republic His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khameni
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

President, His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Sayed Mohammad Khatami
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email the president

Head of Judiciary, His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi
Head of the Judiciary
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Tehran
Fax: +98 21 879 6671 or +98 21 640 4018/4019 (Please mark "care of Director of International Affairs)
Email the Public Relations Department
Email the Public Relations Director

You can also sign the following partition calling on the head of the judicial system, Ayatollah Sharoudi, to grant Mojtaba a pardon and unconditional release.

http://alpr.30morgh.org/guest/archives/002216.php

come on bloggers, UNITE...
this could be OUR chance to set the precedent. OUR chance to be in charge of our future. If the Irani government get away with taking him, who says the Australian government wont try to take me in the future if I say something they don't like... Who says the Iraqi National Guard wont start destroying bloggers computers or houses?

Who says the Patriot Act wont be extended upon bloggers?

If we can unit now then we can unite any time, and if we are victorious once,
we may avoid the situation recurring (doubtful, but cant blame me for being an optimist).

more from me later today

[olivebranch]