20:36, 21 October 2006

Iranian authorities arrest journalists from Azerbaijan

Authorities of Iran continue to exert pressure on mass media in South Azerbaijan. In several recent days, 8 journalists were arrested under different pretexts. The correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" was told at the press service of the Baku office of the Movement for National Awakening of South Azerbaijan (MNASA) that the Iranian special agencies had arrested Rasul Jafari and Azim Ibadpur, journalists of the Azerbaijani-language newspaper "Yarpag," and independent journalists Rza Kyazimi, Vakhid Dargyakhi, Orudzh Amiri, Ali Nazari, Asadullakh Salmi and Ismail Javadi.

Along with that, the MNASA expressed their concern about the indifference displayed by Azerbaijani mass media towards their southern colleagues. "It's a great pity that so far the press has not supported our southern colleagues," Azer Nidzhati, press service worker of the MNASA, noted.

We remind you that pressure on Azerbaijani journalists in Iran started after this May unrests of the Azerbaijanis of this country who stood up for their rights.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent