Iranian Doctors Illegally Detained in Tehran Prison

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has called for urgent action to free two leading academics from Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. Dr Kamiar Alaei and Dr Arash Alaei, who have both been committed to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS for many years, have been detained without trial for over six months. On December 31st 2008, the doctors were subjected to a one-day secret army trial in Tehran's Revolutionary Court. They are still awaiting a verdict.

Arash and Kamiar were found guilty of communicating with an ‘enemy government’ in an arbitrary trial that has been widely labelled as politically motivated. The prosecution cited the brothers’ participation at numerous international AIDS conferences as part of their scheme to foment a so-called ‘velvet revolution’ against Tehran, according to Physicians for Human Rights.

Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which requires the government to protect all citizens from arbitrary arrest or detention and to declare the reasons for an arrest and the charges that will be brought. The brothers are eligible for bail, but there has been no bail hearing. They have also been detained far longer than Iranian law allows. A verdict should have been reached on 7th January, but was postponed due to a national holiday.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Dr Kamiar Alaei is an AIDS physician and doctoral student at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health and Dr Arash Alaei is former Director of the International Education and Research Cooperation of the Iranian National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

The doctors have an international reputation for their contributions to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes. They have worked to address problems relating to drug use in the spread of HIV/AIDS for over 20 years. They have been instrumental in placing these issues firmly on the Iranian national healthcare agenda, working with both government and religious leaders on education programmes for young people and in prisons. They have also conducted workshops for Afghan and Tajik healthcare professionals.


RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send appeals:

1. Calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately release the doctors and explain in more detail the reasons for their arrest and trial;

2. Reminding the authorities that Iran is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which requires the government to protect all citizens from arbitrary arrest or detention and to declare the reasons for an arrest and the charges that will be brought.

3. Seeking assurances that Iran remains committed to effective treatment and prevention of HIV as promoted by Drs Arash Alaei and Kamiar Alaei.

* Alternatively, please call the Iranian Mission to the UN at +1-212-687-2020 - For more information on talking points and to sign the petition for their release, please visit:

http://actnow-phr.org/campaign/drop_the_charges  


APPEALS TO:

President

His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir  

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Health and Medical Education

His Excellency Dr Kamran Baqeri Lankarani
Ministry of Health
Jomhuri-ye Eslami Avenue
Hafez Crossing
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +982 1 88364100
Email: Lankarani@mohme.gov.ir / minister@mohme.gov.ir / pro@mohme.gov.ir

Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of the Judiciary

His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)

Salutation: Your Excellency


COPIES TO:

Please send copies to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.


PLEASE ALSO SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Programme Officer
Network for Education and Academic Rights
90 London Road
London SE1 6LN
UK

Fax: +44 (0) 20 7021 0881

contact@nearinternational.org  

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Alert - Iran

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