Germany’s parliamentary speaker has written to his Iranian counterpart, Ali Larijani, calling for the immediate release of Iranian sports photojournalist Maryam Majd.
Norbert Lammert is demanding details of her arrest, which he calls a “blatant violation of human rights and freedom.”
Majd was arrested two weeks ago on the day before a planned trip to Germany to cover the Women’s Soccer World Cup and to collaborate on a book with German soccer player Petra Landers.
Markus Loening, the German commissioner of human rights, had previously condemned Majd’s arrest and called for her release.
Majd’s arrest has also been challenged by 32 Iranian photojournalists, who write: “Although the arrest of Maryam Majd has not been officially confirmed, the growing trend toward similar illegal confrontations with media activists has made us gravely concerned about this young photojournalist.”
Kaleme opposition website has reported that Majd is currently being held in Ward 2A of Evin Prison, which is under the supervision of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps.
