Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran

June 15, 2007

Excellency,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE calls for the release of three U.S.-Iranian citizens charged with espionage last week. The accused are Kian Tajbakhsh, a social scientist who has worked as a consultant for the Open Society Institute; Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Middle East program at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; and Parnaz Azima, journalist for Radio Farda, the Persian-language service run jointly by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America.

The Iranian government has accused them and their organisations of endangering national security by "engaging in propaganda and espionage for foreigners."

Esfandiari and Tajbakhsh are currently in detention at Evin prison. Esfandiari was prevented from leaving in December - masked gunmen ambushed her taxi and stole her luggage, including her passport. She was interrogated repeatedly before her arrest on May 8. Tajbakhsh was reportedly arrested three days later. Both have been held incommunicado and have been denied access to their lawyers and family.

Azima has been prohibited from leaving Iran since her passport was seized in January. On May 21, following a large bail payment, the authorities refused to return her passport, citing the interest in her case by the Information Ministry.

CJFE calls on the Iranian government to immediately and unconditionally release Kian Tajbakhsh, Haleh Esfandiari and Parnaz Azima. We also urge the government to return their passports, and allow them to freedom to leave the country if they wish.

I look forward to your response.

Yours Sincerely,

Arnold Amber, CJFE President

Cc: John Mundy, Canadian Ambassador to Iran
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Canada
Chrystiane Roy, Political and Trade Relations with Iran, Foreign Affairs Canada
The Hon. Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs