Imprisoned Iranian journalist named laureate of UNESCO press freedom prize

An imprisoned Iranian journalist has been named as laureate of the 2011 UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

Ahmad Zeidabadi, who is also the winner of last year's Golden Pen award from the World Association of Newspapers, is currently serving a six-year jail sentence following Iran's 2009 presidential election.

According to UNESCO he was first arrested in 2000, before being imprisoned again less than a year after his release on bail in March 2001, sentenced to 23 months in jail and banned for five years from “all public and social activity, including journalism".

He was detained again in 2009, sentenced to six years imprisonment and five years of internal exile to follow, as well as a lifetime ban from practicing journalism.

Zeidabadi was selected by an independent international jury of 12 media professionals, in a tribute to "his exceptional courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression", jury president Diana Senghor said in an announcement.

"Beyond him, also the Prize will award the numerous Iranian journalists who are currently jailed.”

Zeidabadi is former editor-in-chief of the Azad newspaper and contributor to news outlets including the Tehran-based daily Hamshahari and the BBC Persian service.

The director general of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, who endorsed the jury’s decision, also called for his release.

“Throughout his career Ahmad Zeidabadi has courageously and unceasingly spoken out for press freedom and freedom of expression, which is a fundamental human right that underpins all other civil liberties, a key ingredient of tolerant and open societies and vital for the rule of law and democratic governance.

“Ahead of World Press Freedom Day and in recognition of the concerns expressed by the international jury for his health and well-being, I call on the Iranian authorities to release Mr Zeidabadi from detention.”

The annual award offers a prize of $25,000. Candidates are proposed by UNESCO member states, and regional or international organisations which defend and promote freedom of expression.

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