Akbar Ganji

Ganji pledges to defy Iran regime
"Jail never forced me to change my views"

TEHERAN: Iran's most senior dissident journalist, Akbar Ganji, was freed after serving a six-year prison sentence and remained defiant, vowing on Saturday to continue his vocal criticisms of the hard-line clerical regime.

Mr. Ganji (46), appeared gaunt and considerably aged with a long beard, in contrast to his previous unshaven look as he received friends and family on Saturday at his home in Teheran following his release the evening before.

Unjust detention

"My views have not changed at all. Jail and pressures never forced me to change my views. Today, I'm more determined to say what I said six years ago,'' said Mr. Ganji, who was on hunger strike for about three months last year and was in solitary confinement for most of his time in prison.

"My imprisonment was unjust and will remain a great injustice forever,'' he said, drawing applause from his audience. Mr. Ganji was sentenced to six years prison in 2000 after reporting on murders of five dissidents by Intelligence Ministry agents and became a hero to the country's reformists for standing up to hard-line clerics. AP

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Komen saya:

Banyak persoalan yg menyangkut hal seperti Akbar Ganji itu.

Dia telah didakwa di bawah undang2 Iran... dan dihukum oleh mahkamah. Walaupun musuhnya adalah pemerintah tetapi pemerintah telah menggunakan senjata biasa yg ada dalam tangan mereka dengan berkesan... iaitu undang2.

Tentunya kes Akbar Ganji berbeza dengan tahanan di bawah ISA. Di bawah ISA mereka ditahan tanpa perbicaraan. ISA dilihat drp fungsi murni undang2 dan kemanusiaan adalah salah. Ia patut dihapuskan.

Ada yg berjaya apabila berhadapan dengan kuasa pemerintah, tetapi kebanyakannya tewas. Akbar Ganji adalah salah seorang drp mereka yg tewas...

Kita tidak tahu sama ada dia boleh bertahan selepas ini.

Walaupun begitu semangat Ganji sebenarnya ada di mana2 di dunia, malah ada pada sepanjang sejarah manusia.Bagi yg agungkan kebebasan, Ganji adalah hero. Bagi yg percaya pada kuasa, Ganji adalah musuh. Permainan sorong tarik ini akan berterusan sampai bila2.

Satu soalan: Adakah apa yg diperjuangkan oleh Ganji itu sememangnya benar, atau hanya benar pada anggapannya sahaja. Bagaimana kalau Ganji salah? Pemerintah walaupun selalu buat salah tetapi itu bukan bermakna mereka sentiasa salah.