(WAN/IFEX) – In a 25 January 2002 letter to Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed serious concern at the jailing and prosecution of Ovidiu Cristian Iane. According to reports, on 17 January three police officers arrived at the computer company which Iane jointly owns, saying that they were paying […]
(WAN/IFEX) – In a 25 January 2002 letter to Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed serious concern at the jailing and prosecution of Ovidiu Cristian Iane.
According to reports, on 17 January three police officers arrived at the computer company which Iane jointly owns, saying that they were paying a routine visit. The police reportedly found three unlicensed software programs and, after searching Iane’s home, found several more, confiscating the computer and arresting him.
On searching the computer, police reportedly found evidence that Iane had been the originator of a widely-circulated email, entitled “Armageddon II”, an anonymous report compiling a series of previously published corruption accusations against the prime minister.
Iane was detained for three and a half days and has been charged with disseminating false news with a potential to endanger national security and damage international relations. Iane reportedly admitted sending the e-mail upon the request of a friend.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
– stating that the criminal law is a wholly inappropriate means of dealing with this issue
– noting that Iane’s prosecution constitutes a clear breach of his right to freedom of expression, which is protected by numerous international agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 of which states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers”
– calling on him to do everything in his power to ensure that all charges against Iane are immediately dropped
– urging him to do everything in his power to ensure that, in future, Romania fully respects international standards of freedom of expression
Appeals To
The Right Honourable Adrian Nastase
Prime Minister
Romania
c/o Permanent Representative to UN
E-mail: romania@un.int
Please copy appeals to WAN.
