The Iranian government, struggling to silence the many critical voices in the country, has arrested more than 11 journalists in renet days, including former International Press Freedom Award recipient Mashallah Shamsolvaezin and the prominent writer Emadeddin Baghi. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the arrests and called for the release of all detained journalists, who now number more than 30.
"The arrest of every journalist in Iran fills us with indignation, but the detention of Mashallah Shamsolvaezin hits especially close to home," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "We have honored him and stood by him as he has defended press freedom against all odds. We are deeply concerned about his welfare and call for his immediate release."
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=bd08d8b6-b067-4a58-b2f1-f2d1948c492e)