Journalist grounded

BBC news
Wednesday, 13 October, 2004, 16:16 GMT 17:16 UK
Journalist grounded
Media freedom advocates have strongly protested against a travel ban imposed on Iranian journalist Emadedin Baghi, who was due to fly to the United States last week for an award recognising his work.
Mr Baghi was jailed in 2000 for publishing articles criticising Iranian intelligence agents’ role in the murder of intellectuals and dissidents in 1998.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said that even after his release in 2003 “the authorities continue to persecute” Mr Baghi.
“Although it is too late for Emadeddin Baghi to receive his well-deserved Civil Courage Prize, we urge Iranian authorities to lift this travel ban immediately,” said CPJ executive director Ann Cooper.
Mr Baghi’s passport was confiscated at Tehran’s airport on 4 October and he was prevented from leaving Iran by security agents, citing a court order banning him from leaving the country.