Detained in Iran since June 21, Concordia University graduate and journalist Maziar Bahari has found an ally in the Concordia Student Union (CSU).
According to a statement released by American news magazine Newsweek, Bahari, a journalist with Newsweek and a documentary filmmaker, has been detained in Iran for what that country’s state news agency is calling irresponsible reporting.
The CSU has been working in tandem with Concordia to speak to the Canadian government on Bahari’s behalf, demanding his swift release. Bahari graduated from the university in 1993.
“We felt that the only way to get his release was to have the Canadian government directly involved in the situation,” said Prince Ralph Osei, vice-president (services) of the CSU.
“And so speaking with the administration and having the administration team up with the student union makes our voice stronger. So the administration has been in talks with officials in Ottawa who have been handling his file,” he said.
Osei said if there has been no progress towards Bahari’s release by September, they will push forward with a larger showing of support.
“Once students return in September, if, God forbid, he hasn’t been released by that time, then all hands are going to be on deck,” he said. “We’re going to try all means, like demonstrations or whatever opportunities that we get to secure his release.”
A Facebook group called “Free Maziar Bahari Now!” is dedicated to sharing information regarding the safe release of Bahari.
The group has started an online petition against Bahari’s detention and they are encouraging group members to contact MPs.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has issued a statement, saying that the Iranian government should “release all political prisoners and journalists — including Canadians — who have been unjustly detained, to allow Iranian and foreign media to report freely on these historic events . . . “
The CSU has also condemned the actions of the Iranian government.
“First and foremost, anyone that believes in democracy was sickened by the situation that was going in Iran. And to have our alumnus, or our old boy, get tangled up in that situation gave us a cause to come out and speak against what was happening in Iran at that time,” said Osei.
“We believe that any member, any old boy or old girl of this institution, is a spokesperson for this university. And the student union has a responsibility to speak up for them even when they are not students anymore,” Osei said. “That is why we got involved in the first place.”