The

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on Iranian authorities to reopen the office of the

Association of Iranian Journalists

(AoIJ) which was closed down on 5 August on the order of the government's

general prosecutor. The Association said the decision was illegal and has submitted an

application signed by 325 Iranian journalists to the prosecutor general for the reopening of their office.

"This

measure was clearly designed to disrupt the work of the Association," said

Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "One month after the office's closure,

there has been no explanation for it, making it yet another act of media

repression played out in recent months in Iran."

According

to the AoIJ, an IFJ affiliate, the authorities closed down their office shortly

before the general assembly which had been convened to discuss the media

clampdown in Iran in the wake

of the controversial June presidential election. 

The

disputed re-election of President Ahmoud Ahmedinejad led the authorities to

wage a campaign of intimidation of the media in their effort to suppress

independent reporting of the widespread unrest and show of defiance to the

regime in Iran. At least 38 journalists are believed to be in prison and scores more have fled the country

for fear of arrests.

The

IFJ has consistently said that repressive methods used against media in Iran

are stifling new dialogue and further erode the government's credibility and

standing home and abroad.

"It

is time the government acknowledges that press freedom is needed to heal

divisions in today's Iranian

society," added White. "That will not happen unless journalists are free to go

about their work without undue interference."

For more information

contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists

in 123 countries worldwide