RFE/RL’s Persian-language Service, Radio Farda, is mourning the tragic loss of two of its finest journalists and praying for a third who is in a coma at a Prague hospital following a car accident near the Czech capital on September 29.

Rosa Ajiri, 27, and Amir Zamani-Far, 29, were killed in the early morning when their car was hit by a truck. Mahin Gorji, 43, is in a coma and a fourth passenger, a visiting journalist, was treated and released from the hospital.

Despite their relative youth, Rosa and Amir were widely respected for their courageous and resourceful journalism.

When an Iranian student died in custody during post-election protests in July, Rosa secured an exclusive interview with a friend of Javadifar’s who had seen his body and charged that he had been tortured.

Amir was a highly regarded radio host who was perhaps best-known by listeners for his signature sign-off each day on Radio Farda’s evening news magazine: “I wish you a peaceful night,” he would say in his baritone.

One of the last reports Amir filed was on the fate of jailed journalists in Tehran.

Mahin, who remains in critical condition, was one of Iran’s best-known sports reporters before joining Radio Farda. She covers politics and excels at securing interviews with top Iranian political figures and dissidents.

“I pray for Mahin Gorji’s health,” said a caller from Arak in Iran’s Markazi province. Listeners from Iran and elsewhere are calling, emailing, and texting messages of condolence to Radio Farda and RFE/RL.

RFE/RL’s Associate Director of Broadcasting Abbas Djavad said about Rosa and Amir:

They were young and vibrant. Optimistic and hopeful. Open and lovely. Smiling and fun. Hard working and helpful. Educated and dedicated — to their families, friends, their country, and to freedom.

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SEE ALSO:

In Memoriam – Radio Farda Loses Respected Colleagues in Highway Tragedy (Sep. 30)

Radio Farda’s archives (audio/text in Farsi) of stories by:

–Amir Zamani Far

–Rosa Ajiri

–Mahin Gorji