Iranian journalist held in solitary

Iranian journalist Fariba Pajouh, who was arrested without charge on 9 July, is being held in solitary confinement, reports the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Pajouh, a journalist with various reformist newspapers and a former contributor to Radio France Internationale, was previously arrested in 2009.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the Paris-based press freedom watchdog, she then spent 120 days in jail and has been in poor health since her release. She underwent medical treatment for more than a year afterwards.

Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, who was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2003, said Pajouh was probably arrested on the orders of one of her former jailers in the intelligence ministry.

He said: "Unfortunately, Iran's judicial system is not independent. The judges and the courts do as they are told by intelligence officials. This situation constitutes a grave threat to freedom of information in Iran."

*RWB has also learned that documentary filmmaker Mohammad Cherghi – a former journalist with the national radio and TV broadcaster and contributor to various news websites – was arrested on 20 July.

He was summoned to the intelligence ministry, which has questioned him several times about his activities during the presidential election in June. It is not known where he is being held.

Sources: RWB/Human Rights in Iran