NEW YOR—Prominent activist Americans joined in supporting a hunger strike today in front of the United Nations building to free imprisoned Iranians. The three-day hunger strike, which started on Wednesday and ends on Friday, is calling for the release of all political prisoners.
“I strongly defend the human rights of the people of Iran,” said actor and director Robert Redford in a statement of support. “[It’s] one way of drawing world attention to the plight of political prisoners in Iran.” Redford did not attend the event, but his daughter, Amy Redford, did.
The situation in Iran has been tense and deadly since its presidential elections on June 12. The legitimacy of the election result, which gave Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term as president, has been highly contested.
Other prominent American actors and activists also expressed support for the three-day hunger strike. Activist, writer and linguist Noam Chomsky and actor Sean Penn also sent statements of support.
Twenty-seven Iranians participated as hunger strikers. They included prominent members of the academic and political communities.
“I strongly defend the human rights of the people of Iran,” said actor and director Robert Redford in a statement of support. “[It’s] one way of drawing world attention to the plight of political prisoners in Iran.” Redford did not attend the event, but his daughter, Amy Redford, did.
The situation in Iran has been tense and deadly since its presidential elections on June 12. The legitimacy of the election result, which gave Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term as president, has been highly contested.
Other prominent American actors and activists also expressed support for the three-day hunger strike. Activist, writer and linguist Noam Chomsky and actor Sean Penn also sent statements of support.
Twenty-seven Iranians participated as hunger strikers. They included prominent members of the academic and political communities.
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