When the Associaton of American Publishers got ready to hand out its annual Jeri Laber International Freedom to Publish Award to a prominent independent book publisher in Iran, the intended honoree wrote back saying it would be too much trouble. “The business of publishing books is confronted with very dire and troubling conditions in our country,” this publisher told the award committee. “Independent publishers, including our publishing house, are under immense pressure and censorship. Accepting a prize would certainly double these pressures. I am very sad to say that I no longer have the stamina to bear more pressure or to engage in further confrontations.” Yes, things have deteriorated that badly in Iran since Farkhondeh Hajizadeh won the first Laber Award just five years ago.
And so the committee has chosen to give this year’s prize to “the entire beleaguered publishing community” of Iran for its ongoing efforts to resist the harsh reprisals of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s regime. On their behalf, the prize will be given to the Human Rights Defense Center, established by Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi to defend the rights of Iranian citizens to freedom of expression.