I’ve been involved with PHR for quite some time now; first as an intern while an undergrad, as a founding member and leader of my Medical School student chapter, and now as a member of the Board of Directors. As a Muslim medical student, I was honored to be able to speak out on behalf of the Drs Alaei at the first rally we held at the Iranian Mission to the UN in September last year. It is with a heavy heart that I am compelled to continue to advocate for their release going on one year now.

The anniversary of Arash’s and Kamiar’s initial arrests and detention is coming up next week and it will be important for us to gain some attention on this unfortunate milepost. To do that we are in the process of collecting signatures from Muslim health professionals and organizations, as well as health professionals in predominantly Muslim countries, on a letter to the Head of the Iranian Judiciary. We will send a copy of this letter translated into Farsi on the Anniversary of Kamiar’s and Arash’s arrests next week. You can download a copy of the letter including signers to date in Arabic and English.

To make a powerful statement, we need many signatures on the letter, and I could use your help getting them.

Can you reach out to your network to contact Muslim health professionals and organizations and/or health professionals and organizations in predominantly Muslim countries?

I’ve written an email you can feel free to adapt to send to folks asking for their signatures. (English or Arabic) Ask your contacts to sign by emailing me at alikhan [at] phrusa [dot] org. You can sign the letter yourself by doing the same.

If you are on Facebook, please put a link to this post on your page to help us get the word out.

With your help, Drs Kamiar and Arash Alaei will soon be able to resume their lifesaving HIV/AIDS work.