A group of Iranian writers and activists has issued a statement denouncing the recent wave of arrests targeting Iranian poets and writers; it calls for their immediate release and the rescinding of sentences against them.
The statement criticizes the silence of the administration and indicates that the government has been busying itself with the nuclear agreement and neglecting its other election promises, and this approach has led to escalating pressure on social liberties and the further strengthening of despotism.
Last week, poets Rozbeh Gilasian and Elaheh Sorooshnia were arrested at their homes. Two days later, Mohammadreza Haj Rostam Begloo, another poet ,was arrested for “insulting sanctities” and “publishing falsehoods”.
Earlier this month, Yaghma Golrooyi, another prominent poet and songwriter, was arrested and finally released on bail.
The statement calls on the government to break its silence and act against extremism before it is too late.
The statement calls for an end to the arrests, the rescinding of issued sentences and the immediate release of the arrested poets and writers. It adds that the administration needs to come through on its election promises.
The statement is signed by a number of Iranian writers and activists including Ali Ashraf Darvishian and Mehrangiz Kar.
