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Connect the World
August 3, 2009
Posted: 1832 GMT

LONDON, England – Paola Gourley smiled as she flicked through her photo album with me earlier today. She was showing me shots of her husband – filmmaker and journalist Maziar Bahari. But her smile masked what can only be described as a period of utter misery. Six weeks ago Maziar was arrested at his mother's home in Tehran following post-election demonstrations. He'd been covering the elections for Newsweek magazine. Paola has heard nothing from him since then.

Paola is six months pregnant and as we flicked through the album she stopped at one shot in particular: "This is a special photo. Unfortunately Maziar wasn't here when it was taken, he was supposed to be. It's the twenty week scan of the little baby."

My heart goes out to Paola, Maziar and their as yet unborn child.

Your thoughts and comments below, please. Email me at ConnectTheWorld@cnn.com

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Martin G   August 4th, 2009 10:20 am ET

For those,who stand up for justice!...Free iran...Remembering neda...

john   August 4th, 2009 11:28 am ET

I will pray for Paola and Maziar. I am certain that he is innocent and hope that he can return to his wife soon – before she delivers their new baby.

parisa

André.F.rochon   August 4th, 2009 3:23 pm ET

Whether Maziar Baharin is guilty or not is irrelevant in Iran. In Iran facts are irrelevant and so is the law.

They say Islam is a religion of peace...But everywhere Islam prevails, there is abuse and suffering ...Schools are burned, civilians are killed, women are raped and treated as slaves , elections are rigged....

Yes the only thing we can do is pray....and hope there is a God...

Tunde   August 4th, 2009 3:43 pm ET

Our prayers are with you Mazairs, I believe you will soon rejoin with your family and love ones. Stay bless

Omar   August 4th, 2009 3:47 pm ET

Why is it that whenever there is a conflict of interest between a state and the media, the reporters and journalists are the ones who have to suffer persecution..? I think it about time that the UNO and other global organizations should seek to provide 'indemnity' from any governement persecution in times of political unrest or war in any country. The Journalists and reporters are the ones who need to be protected abroad, too many have lost their lives already, when is the internationl comity of nations make it unlawful for any country to persecute or imprison foreign media in ther own courts..?

The only media that can report without fearing perscution is the foreign corps. There should be an international charter of rights that provides them protection against politically motivated persecution and makes it compulsory for any and all such journalists against whom a host country has made allegations; to be tried by an international court which is free from bias.

I pray that the Iranian govenrnement will not stoop so low as to deprive a woman her husband and a child it's father.

stan45   August 4th, 2009 5:01 pm ET

This is typical of a tyrannical dictatorship. Look at history and you will see this is nothing new. Every dictatorship has had the same theme, I (being the government) am always right and your always wrong. This can only change when the people of Iran deciede they have had enough and they alone must do what they have to in order to have a political system that insures equal rights and justice. Till that happens every reporter is subject to hostile provacation, and internment in jail on false pretenses and will always lose, regardless of just how right he is.

Akande Mayowa k   August 22nd, 2009 4:02 am ET

I need more Nigeria news on cnn.Thanks

jiri cumpelik   August 26th, 2009 1:56 pm ET

Becky please can you speak slowly,clearly. we are not native english speakers and its a nightmare for us to follow what you say and often we change channels because its beyond our understanding. Less of shouting and more substance please.
thanks

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Connect the World takes viewers on a sweeping journey across continents, beyond headlines and into histories, possibilities and depths of the stories that are changing our world. Host Becky Anderson and guests will join the dots of stories and events by exploring how an event or circumstance in one part of the world can have significant impact and reach elsewhere. Weekdays at 2100 GMT.

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