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Profile: Akbar Ganji

Jailed journalist Akbar Ganji has become a symbol of resistance for Iran's reformists.

The state's most prominent political dissident has continued his criticism of Iran's ruling clerics from behind bars.

He is currently on hunger strike, in an act his wife says has left the 46-year-old "fighting with death".

His case has drawn international concern - and powerful allies.

US President George W Bush and leading Republicans have joined in calls for his release.

'Valiant efforts'

The former Revolutionary Guard turned reformist was jailed for six years in 2001, over articles linking Iranian leaders with a series of political killings in the 1990s.

They hide this outworn body from the public to hide the reality of the Islamic Republic Akbar Ganji

Ganji has continued to write in prison and his letters have been smuggled out and published on the internet.

In 2002 he wrote a Republican Manifesto which laid out plans for a democratic Iran.

Ganji was taken to hospital last week following a hunger strike of about 40 days to demand his unconditional release.

The US, EU and international human rights organisations have backed his call.

"His calls for freedom deserve to be heard. His valiant efforts should not go in vain," Mr Bush said.

'Grave situation'

The Iranian government recently denied that Ganji was on hunger strike, saying he had been taken to hospital for treatment to his knee.

But his wife says he is now in a "very grave situation".

In a statement faxed to the BBC, Massoumeh Shafieh said her husband had lost 25kg during 45 days of continuous hunger strike.

His wife says the authorities have pledged never to release her husband unless he withdraws his accusations and apologises to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

But Ganji has said he will stand firm.

"They hide this outworn body from the public to hide the reality of the Islamic Republic," he wrote in a letter during his hunger strike.

"Let it be known that Ganji will not cease his indefinite hunger strike until he achieves his goal."