The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on Iranian authorities to immediately revoke their decision not to allow Mashaallah Shamsalwaezen, the vice president of IFJ’s affiliate the Association of Iranian Journalists (AoIJ), to travel outside Iran.
According to the AoIJ, Shamsalwaezen, a journalist and political analyst, has received a note from Iranian authorities telling him he is not allowed to travel outside the Iran anymore and asking him to report to the country’s revolutionary court.
“We call on the Iranian government and the country’s local authorities to take immediate steps to overturn this ludicrous decision and allow our colleague Mashaallah Shamsalwaezen to travel outside Iran, as is his right as a citizen and a journalist,†said IFJ President Jim Boumelha.
“Our colleague has committed no crime and there is no reason to ask him to come to court or to prevent him from travelling outside the country. If Iranian authorities pursue this course of action it will be a clear violation of Shamsalwaezen’s human rights and right to freedom of movement and will set a dangerous precedent regarding press freedom in the country.â€
