Several months ago, I reported that Japan had detained an outspoken Iranian dissident, Jamal Saberi, on immigration charges. According to international law, Japan was preparing to deport Saberi to Iran where he would face prison, or worse. Yesterday it was announced that Saberi is now free.
Twitter members joined petitions, many wrote letters to Japanese officials, and several of us wrote blog posts (and Lissnup and others even took the time to translate some of the letters into French). Perhaps the most effective movement, however, was that of my colleagues in the Washington D.C., Mission Free Iran, who protested often in front of the Japanese embassy.
These efforts succeeded. Jamal Saberi has been released, and he will no longer face deportation. Efforts are now being made to ensure that he is given official refugee status.
Thanks need to be given for this momentous victory. According to Mission Free Iran, they include:
@JoanneMichele, who traveled for hours weekend after weekend to attend our incessant protests in front of the Japanese Embassy; @MrZand, who could always be counted on, week after week, to stand in front of Japan and condemn their actions, and who also took beautiful photographs of our demonstrations; @Shhh28 and @KevScottDC, who made unforgettable cameo appearances at our demonstrations; Majid Azari and Saeed Salehinia, who never, ever, left us standing alone on Massachusetts Avenue; a certain person who shall remain nameless but who always made sure that we had plenty of signs for our demonstrations; and several other people who won’t be mentioned for security reasons, but who should know that they are recognized. @Shariatmadari provided strong graphics to represent our demands, both in the flesh and online. And the entire Facebook and Twitter communities who supported Mission Free Iran’s efforts on behalf of Jamal Saberi, spread the word about his case, and encouraged the world to write letters on his behalf.
Welcome back, Jamal. This episode should stand as an example of how much online activism, and a lot of hard work, can really accomplish.
One Million Voices for Iran