Emadeddin Baghi, a journalist, writer and human rights campaigner was arrested in Tehran on October 14, 2007. A member of the Iranian Sociology Association, Mr. Baghi has written many books on religious, historical and sociological issues, and he worked as a university teacher for eight years before being dismissed under pressure from the military. He has since been prevented from teaching and has served a previous prison sentence in 2000-2003 as a result of his journalism. For his work on human rights he is a recipient of the Northcote Parkinson Fund's Civil Courage Award (2004) and the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights Award (2005), and it was in relation to his role in the Association in Defense of Freedom of Press and the Association for Defending the Rights of Prisoners in Iran that he was called to the public prosecutors office and arrested in October. He is now serving a suspended one-year sentence he received in 2004 for his journalistic activities as well as a new three-year sentence on additional charges of "propaganda against the state" and the "public disclosure of state secrets" (stemming from his activities in support of prisoners' rights). He is being held and interrogated in the notorious Evin Prison, even though he is officially only serving a one year sentence for articles he published ten years ago for which he already received and served a four year sentence in 2003. He has been denied visits from his family (who have themselves received legal threats) and regular access to his lawyer. Mr. Baghi has sent letters to five officials, threatening hunger strike if his ordeal continues. In late December he suffered two heart attacks, and although temporarily released in January on health grounds he is now back in prison. For more information see his website:

http://freedomforbaghi2.blogspot.com/