A plea to support reformists and dissidents

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the communists
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me -
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemoller

Any blog such as this one, which supports the struggle for minority rights, is bound to support the struggle for democracy and basic human rights going on in Arab countries and Iran, for both struggles go hand in hand.

It is a basic human right to express oneself freely without fear of imprisonment or persecution.

Spare a thought, therefore, for the thousands of dissidents and reformists muzzled by brutal regimes or being tortured in jail.

The Jerusalem Post's Iranian blogger Reza Zarabi has made a desperate plea for the release of brutalised dissident Ahmad Batebi, who is 'on his death bed' in an Iranian jail. Please sign the petition for Batebi's release on Reza's blog, Persian Abyss.