Update: She’s been freed unharmed.
Al Jazeera digital journalist Dorothy Parvaz disappeared in Syria two weeks ago. Then on May 1st, she was deported to Iran, where she’s believed to be held in Tehran. While Al Jazeera has been working behind the scenes to free her, family and friends have launched a “Free Dorothy” social media campaign.
I first noticed it when some of my Facebook friends swapped out their profile pics with a “Free Dorothy” avatar. Parvaz’s friends have set up a Facebook page and a @freedorothy Twitter account, and they’re asking Twitter users to spread the word with the #FreeDorothy hashtag, as well. While still modest, the social campaign is starting to gain momentum.
Dorothy Parvaz worked for the Seattle PI several years ago — she was born in Iran and left as a child, and she has family in Canada. Several journalism organizations have asked for her release, including the Nieman Foundation (where she was a fellow in 2009), UNITY and the Committee to Protect Journalists.