His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei

Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran

His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahrudi

Head of Judiciary

Ministry of Justice

C/o Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran

245 Metcalfe Street

Ottawa ON K2P 2K2

Fax: 613 232 5712

December 20, 2001

Your Excellency,

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organisation advocating for a free press and freedom of expression world-wide, wishes to express its fear and concern regarding the situation of journalist and film critic Siamak Pourzand.

Pourzand, 70, has been missing since 24 November, 2001. There are unconfirmed reports that Pourzand was arrested by the Iranian intelligence service, possibly because of his involvement in the management of the Majmue-ye Farrhangi-ye Honari-ye Tehran, a cultural centre for writers, artists and intellectuals. Pourzand is also an experienced journalist, film critic and manager. Of further concern to our organization is that Pourzand suffers from diabetes and has a heart condition.

CJFE urges Your Excellency to seek out all confirmation that Pourzand has, in fact, been arrested and, if so, to make the charges against him public. We advise that any charge against him be dropped immediately unless they constitute obvious criminal offences. Finally, Pourzand’s whereabouts must be determined immediately, as he may be in need of medical attention.

Your government’s assistance in finding and helping Pourzand will only serve to enhance your commitment to free expression in Iran. We request that every effort be made to ensure that Pourzand be found and treated humanely.

Sincerely,

Arnold Amber

President, Board of Directors