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Free Iranian Economist Fariborz Raisdana
Published by John S. Burke on Jun 12, 2011
48 Signatures 
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Target: UN, UNHCHR, US State Department, EU, Navi Pillay, Ban Ki-Moon, European Parliament, AI, HRW
Region: GLOBAL
Background (Preamble):
Fariborz Raisdana, an Iranian economist who criticized government-subsidy cuts by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration, has been sentenced to one year in prison.
According to Aftab news, the charges against Fariborz Raisdana range from “membership in Writers’ Association, preparing press releases for seditionists, issuing announcements against the regime and propaganda for leftist and Marxist groups, interviews with the BBC and VOA, and accusing the Islamic Republic of prisoner abuse.”
The Iranian government implemented the so-called “targeting of subsidies” law last year, causing Iranians to pay higher prices for energy and food staples. The government gave cash benefits to households to help them adjust to the higher costs of everyday needs. The plan was criticized by many experts, including Raisdana, who predicted rising inflation and hardship for the working class.
Raisdana was arrested last December after he spoke against the subsidy changes with the BBC. He was released on bail after a month. This is not the first time Fariborz Raisdana has been in prison, as he has been imprisoned before for questioning the political system in Iran, nevertheless he has continued to call for reforms within Iran.
According to Aftab news, the charges against Fariborz Raisdana range from “membership in Writers’ Association, preparing press releases for seditionists, issuing announcements against the regime and propaganda for leftist and Marxist groups, interviews with the BBC and VOA, and accusing the Islamic Republic of prisoner abuse.”
The Iranian government implemented the so-called “targeting of subsidies” law last year, causing Iranians to pay higher prices for energy and food staples. The government gave cash benefits to households to help them adjust to the higher costs of everyday needs. The plan was criticized by many experts, including Raisdana, who predicted rising inflation and hardship for the working class.
Raisdana was arrested last December after he spoke against the subsidy changes with the BBC. He was released on bail after a month. This is not the first time Fariborz Raisdana has been in prison, as he has been imprisoned before for questioning the political system in Iran, nevertheless he has continued to call for reforms within Iran.
Petition:
We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Fariborz Raisdana and a complete repeal of the Islamic Republic's illegal conviction against him. Fariboz Raisdana is a prisoner of conscience who has been persecuted solely for pursuing his duties as an economist and peacefully disseminating his opinions and professional findings.
The arrest and prison sentence of this economist is a flagrant violation of his rights under both the International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights as well as the Iranian Constitution.
The arrest and prison sentence of this economist is a flagrant violation of his rights under both the International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights as well as the Iranian Constitution.
The Free Iranian Economist Fariborz Raisdana petition to UN, UNHCHR, US State Department, EU, Navi Pillay, Ban Ki-Moon, European Parliament, AI, HRW was written by John S. Burke and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition. Contact author here. Petition tags: fariborz raisdana, fariborz rais-dana, iran, islamic republic of iran, ahmadinejad, economist, economics, prisoners of conscience, political prisoners, freedom of expression, persecution, repression
