Campaign : Free all writers, journalists, and bloggers imprisoned in Iran.

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Dear Friends, SIGN THE PETITION PEN American Center has joined with a number of leading press freedom and free expression groups to wage a campaign to free all writers, journalists, and bloggers imprisoned in Iran. As part of the campaign, we have launched a petition calling for their release. I’m writing to ask all PEN supporters to add your names now. Since the disputed June 2009 presidential elections, Iran has become the second leading jailer of writers and journalists in the world, with at least 60 behind bars. Authorities continue to target the press and conduct arrests nearly every day. “I know my jailers in Iran were aware of the depth of international concern,” said Newsweek correspondent Maziar Bahari, who was jailed for 118 days in Iran and who was released following a campaign PEN helped organize last year. “We need to raise a similar outcry on behalf of the more than 60 journalists, writers, and bloggers jailed there today. Adding your name to this petition will help us deliver the message that people around the world are watching.” To sign the petition and learn more about the campaign, visit the campaign web site. We will be delivering the petition on April 6, so please take action now. We look forward to seeing you at our PEN World Voices event featuring Maziar Bahari on Sunday, May 2. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit pen.org. Thank you for taking action. Sincerely, Kwame Anthony Appiah President, PEN American Center P.S. Please consider getting others involved by forwarding this e-mail to friends and colleagues, and posting a notice on Twitter, Facebook, and/or other social media outlets. PEN American Center | 588 Broadway, Suite 303 | New York, NY 10012 | (212) 334-1660