Saeed Laylaz

Saeed Laylaz[1] (Persian: سعید لیلاز) is an Iranian economist, journalist, and a former advisor to President Mohammad Khatami.[2] Laylaz was a pro-reform critic of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and was arrested as part of a general crackdown during the 2009–2010 Iranian election protests; his newspaper, the business daily Sarmayeh, was banned by government censors in November 2009.[3] He is a professor at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University.[4]

Saeed Laylaz
NationalityIranian
Occupation(s)Economist, journalist
EmployerShahid Beheshti University
Known for2009 imprisonment
Political partyExecutives of Construction Party
SpouseSepehrnaz Panahi
Children2

2009 arrest

During the 2009 Iranian presidential election, Laylaz was a key adviser in the campaign of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.[4] After President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected amid allegations of voter fraud in June, Iran saw widespread protests.

On 17 June, Laylaz was arrested as part of a general crackdown on journalists.[3][5] A Sarmayeh husband-and-wife team, editor Bahman Ahmadi Amouee and reporter Jila Baniyaghoob, were arrested three days later.[6] On 2 December 2009, Laylaz was found guilty of "taking part in illegal gatherings" and "holding classified information", and was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.[7] In March 2010, the sentence was reduced on appeal to three years.[8]

Laylaz's imprisonment drew international attention and protest from NGOs. Amnesty International designated him a prisoner of conscience, "detained solely for [his] peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression", and called for his immediate release.[9] Human Rights Watch called on the Iranian government to "halt the crackdown" and release Laylaz and the other detained.[5] The Committee to Protect Journalists described itself as "deeply concerned" by the sentence, calling it "highly politicized and unjustified".[10] Reporters Without Borders listed it as a "Press Freedom Violation".[8]

Personal life

Laylaz is married to Sepehrnaz Panahi, with whom he has a daughter, Shahrzad, and a son, Mohammad-Hossein.[1]

References
  1. Borzou Daragahi (1 April 2010). "Two Iranian teens, two reactions to their father's jailing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  2. "Saeed Laylaz". The Guardian. London. 27 March 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  3. Fredrik Dahl (2 November 2009). "Iran bans pro-reform business daily". Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  4. "Raw Data: Economist Saeed Laylaz". Fox News. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  5. "Iran: Halt the Crackdown". Human Rights Watch. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  6. Angela Charlton (21 June 2009). "At least 24 reporters arrested in Iran". Associated Press  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  7. Reza Derakhshi (2 December 2009). "Iran editor gets 9-year jail term for vote protest". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  8. "Press Freedom Violations Recounted in Real Time". Reporters Without Borders. 22 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  9. "Iran: Further Information: Three Iranian Journalists Sentenced". Amnesty International. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  10. "Iran sentences two journalists to long prison terms". The Committee to Protect Journalists. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
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