Iran: Dr Kamiar Alaei free; his brother, Dr Arash Alaei, is still in prison in Iran: Health professional action update
Index: MDE 13/064/2011
Dr Kamiar Alaei is free and his three year sentence has expired but Dr Arash Alaei remains in prison in Tehran. Amnesty International urges that he be released immediately and unconditionally and allowed to return to his important HIV and AIDS work.
On 16 June 2011 Dr Kamiar Alaei accepted in person the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights on behalf of himself and his brother, Dr Arash Alaei, at the Global Health Council conference in Washington DC, USA.
Dr Kamiar Alaei has publicly thanked those who campaigned for his release.
Amnesty International has been campaigning for the brothers' release since their arrest in June 2008 and continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Arash Alaei, who has now served half of his six year sentence.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY:
Explaining that you are a health professional concerned about human rights;
Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr Arash Alaei, as he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely in connection with his professional work for the prevention of HIV and care of people affected by the disease - including work with US institutions on HIV and AIDS;
Urging the authorities to ensure that health professionals are able to continue work with people living with HIV and AIDS without harassment.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 31 AUGUST 2011 TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei The Office of the Supreme Leader Islamic Republic Street - End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: [email protected] Twitter: "Call on #Iran leader @khamenei_ir to free imprisoned AIDS doctor Arash #Alaei immediately to continue his important work"
Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani Office of the Head of the Judiciary, Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave. south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: [email protected] (In subject line: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani) or [email protected]
Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami Baharestan Square Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran Email: [email protected] Fax: +98 21 3355 6408
Copies to: Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights Mohammad Javad Larijani High Council for Human Rights [Care of] Office of the Head of the Judiciary, Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave. south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737,Islamic Republic of Iran Email: [email protected] (subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)
Please also send copies to diplomatic representatives of the Iranian Government accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
IF YOU RECEIVE NO REPLY WITHIN SIX WEEKS OF SENDING YOUR LETTER, PLEASE SEND A FOLLOW-UP LETTER SEEKING A RESPONSE. PLEASE SEND COPIES OF ANY LETTERS YOU RECEIVE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT, ATTENTION OF THE HEALTH AND DETENTION TEAM, 1 EASTON STREET, LONDON WC1X 0DW OR E-MAIL: [email protected]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights honours a key figure in the 20th century fight against global poverty, illness and social injustice. Dr Mann, who died in a plane crash in 1998, was the founding director of the World Health Organization's Special Program on AIDS (1986-1990) and a vocal advocate of both health and human rights.
Dr Kamiar Alaei, and his brother, Dr Arash Alaei, who are both experts in the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS, were sentenced in January 2009 to three and six years' imprisonment respectively, for "cooperating with an enemy government" after months in pre-trial detention without access to a lawyer and an unfair trial in which secret evidence was produced which they were not allowed to see or challenge. Their arrest is believed to be related to their links with foreign academics and civil society organizations, including in the USA. Both doctors were highly respected AIDS specialists who had not been politically active. Amnesty International, along with a wide range of health and human rights organizations, regarded them as prisoners of conscience who should never have been imprisoned.