Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health from Guyana and the President of the 61st World Health Assembly, called for the Alaeis’ freedom in a speech given on May 18 at the 62nd World Health Assembly in Geneva. The World Health Assembly brings together health ministers from World Health Organization member states to act as the governing body for the WHO. Dr. Ramsammy told the assembled crowd:

In doing our work, we are blessed with having a make-up for compassion and mercy. Before I close I would like to extend an appeal for compassion and mercy. And I would like to urge we all join in this appeal. Two of my colleagues, our public health colleagues, are presently in prison. I appeal to the authorities in Iran to show mercy and justice to these two young public health professionals.

A few days later, on May 21, Dr. Ramsammy gave a keynote address at Collaborating Across Borders II, a conference devoted to furthering interprofessional education and collaboration between the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Ramsammy repeated his call for the Alaeis’ freedom before the health scholars, educators and practitioners gathered in Halifax:

Before I close, health is about compassion and justice. Health professionals have responded to a call for justice and compassion. Two of our brothers are in prison in Iran. I do not know the reason for their imprisonment. I do know they served their sisters and brothers and were dedicated health care professionals. I have joined a group called Physicians for Human Rights which is trying to lobby support for freedom for the Alaei Brothers. Join us in raising your voices so that the Government of Iran may examine this case and perhaps grant mercy so that these brothers could continue their work in public health.

Ramsammy used these two speeches to highlight the importance of equal healthcare for all during this time of global economic crisis. The Alaeis’ freedom would improve quality and availability of healthcare for countless Iranian AIDS patients.

As the one-year anniversary of the Alaeis’ arrest draws closer, continued advocacy for their release becomes increasingly important. Please sign our petition or send a letter (sample letter) to the Iranian embassy in your country calling for their freedom. Arash and Kamiar Alaei need your help to continue their live-saving work for patients in Iran and around the world.