Amnesty campaign for bloggers

Amnesty is issuing a call to bloggers to stand up for oppressed bloggers:

PRESS RELEASE

EMBARGOED UNTIL: FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER 2006

AMNESTY ISSUES ‘CALL TO BLOGGERS’ TO STAND UP FOR FREEDOM AHEAD OF WORLD MEETING ON FUTURE OF INTERNET

Urgent appeal for Iranian blogger held incommunicado

Amnesty International today (27 October) issued a ‘Call to Bloggers’, asking them to get online and stand up for freedom of expression on the internet. The organisation says this is a critical time when fundamental rights – particularly freedom of expression and privacy – are under threat from governments that want to control what their citizens say, and what information they can access.

The call comes as the online world prepares to meet at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF, Athens 30/10 – 2/11) to discuss the future of the internet. Amnesty released a statement to the IGF today and is sending a delegation to ensure that human rights are not sidelined and remain at the heart of the forum’s discussions.

Amnesty’s statement also coincides with an urgent appeal on behalf of a blogger in Iran who was detained this month. Kianoosh Sanjari was arrested earlier this month while reporting on clashes between security forces and supporters of Shi'a cleric Ayatollah Boroujerdi. He is being held incommunicado and Amnesty International fears that he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Sanjari had allegedly gone to the home of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in the capital, Tehran, to prepare a report on the clashes that were taking place there.

Not sure if this blogger also needs Amnesty's help....