Free Maziar Bahari

By Joe Klein | @JoeKleinTIME | July 13, 2009 | +

Newsweek editor Jon Meacham has issued a plea for the release of Newsweek journalist and documentarian Maziar Bahari. I’ve met Maziar several times, I attended rallies and press conferences with him in the runup to the June 12 election, and the idea that he is any sort of spy is blatant nonsense. The Iranian authorities should know that blaming outsiders–journalists, British diplomats–for the street demonstrations that attended the electoral debacle is simply ludicrous, not just to the world, but also to the Iranian people, for whom these star-chamber arrests are intended.

Related Topics: Iran, Maziar Bahari, Newsweek, Uncategorized

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queencersei

“The Iranian authorities should know that blaming outsiders–journalists, British diplomats–for the street demonstrations that attended the electoral debacle is simply ludicrous, not just to the world, but also to the Iranian people..”

What’s their alternative? Admit they committed election fraud? Admit that possibly they are responsible for undermining their support with the common Iranian all on their own?
Nope, it’s just easier to resort to the old party line of blaming the evil westerners. No sort of introspection is needed here.
deconstructiva

I hope journalists in Iran, NoKo, and other trigger-happy places are protecting themselves to the fullest. And how safe ARE journalists in China when they’ve got something “bad” to report? Don’t forget protecting yourself, Joe. If twitter helped a lot in Iran, would it help protect yourself as a backup to open an account? Get captured, send tweet and we’ll charter / steal airplanes and fly over to rescue you ala Charles Bronson’s “Breakout”. I watched that movie over weekend, can you tell? But do protect yourself “over there”, please.
mrein

Sounds comparatively breezy with freedom to me . . .
gysgt213

I have neither the time nor legal background to considered in what Iran is doing is illegal.
jcapan

I agree Joe, but can we at least acknowledge that Iran is not the only country that does this? In other words, you can condemn the Iranians for such practices (and you should), but as with our gov’t, I’m forced to call b-s/hypocrisy unless you’re also willing to admit America’s own shameful and egregious violations.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/05/11/journalists/
gysgt213

Absolutely right.