CJFE Welcomes News of Journalist Maziar Bahari's Release from Prison in Iran

TORONTO , Oct. 19 /CNW/ - Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) welcomes the news on October 17 , that Canadian Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari has been released on bail after four months in an Iranian jail.

"We are all relieved to hear that Maziar Bahari has been released on bail and currently at home with his family in Tehran ," said CJFE Executive Director Annie Game. "Hopefully this is a sign that other journalists who continue to languish in jail in Iran will also be released in the near future."

Maziar Bahari is Newsweek's Tehran correspondent. He had been held without charge in prison in Iran since June 21 .

While this long awaited news is extremely welcome - there remain concerns that Bahari's ability to leave the country may be restricted. This is particularly important at the moment, when Bahari's wife, Paola Gourley , is expecting the birth of their first child on October 26 , in England.

This was an important step forward however CJFE remains concerned about the more than 30 journalists and bloggers who remain in prison, arrested simply for exercising their right to free expression. This group includes another journalist with dual Canadian and Iranian citizenship, blogger Hossein Derakhshan who was detained almost a year ago. CJFE continues to advocate for the release of Derakhshan and other journalists imprisoned in Iran .

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is an association of more than 300 journalists, editors, publishers, producers, students and others who work to promote and defend free expression and press freedom in Canada and abroad. www.cjfe.org

For further information: Julie Payne, CJFE Manager, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), 555 Richmond St W. Ste. 1101, P.O.B. 407, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5V 3B1, Tel: [phone] ext. 226, Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected], http://www.cjfe.org