Two years ago, Dr. Kamiar Alaei and Dr Arash Alaei were arrested in Iran, just as they were preparing to leave for Mexico to present on their innovative harm reduction work at the XVII International AIDS Conference.

On July 18, the world convenes again for the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria — but will be short two shining stars. Arash and Kamiar remain in jail today. The Iranian government accused the brothers of using trips to AIDS and public health conferences around the world to “foment a velvet revolution” and sentenced them to years in prison. We say treating AIDS is not a crime.

Friends and colleagues of the Alaeis will be in Vienna spreading the word about their case and advocating for their release, and PHR will be supporting them all the way.

Will you be in Vienna at the AIDS conference? To volunteer with these efforts, email Clint Trout at clintworldwide [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Want to take action to support the Alaeis? Sign our new petition, calling on the government of Iran to free the Alaeis.

Throughout their careers, the Alaeis have promoted public health diplomacy and supported the quest for shared solutions to the world’s shared disease burden. It is an outrage to call this treason. Medical professionals should not be put in prison for doing their jobs. Take action today and stand in solidarity with the Alaeis.

See the Background page for more information on their case.

This week marks Nowruz, or the Persian New Year, in Iran. On this Nowruz, Amnesty International wants to remember several courageous prisoners of conscience in Iran—including Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei—with Nowruz greetings. PHR is pleased to support Amnesty’s call to action, which will send a message of hope and solidarity to Kamiar and Arash and other human rights activists in Iran.

We encourage you to mail Nowruz greetings to Kamiar and Arash, carefully following Amnesty’s instructions:

We ask you to mail cards with simple Nowruz greetings such as “Nowruz mobarak”. You can add “thinking of you at Nowruz time” or “hoping you are well.” You may send a greeting in either English or Farsi (Persian), but please do not mention Amnesty International (or PHR or any other organization) or specifics of the recipient’s case. Please also refrain from mentioning the political situation, human rights or US-Iran relations.

We suggest sending cards with pictures of landscapes, spring flowers or the like, in keeping with the spirit of the holiday and the message of hope and renewal. Please do not choose cards that have pictures of people or depictions of bottles of wine or other alcoholic beverages.

Mail Nowruz greetings to Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei:

Velenjak St., 16
Yasaman 2 Blvd
Floor 5, Apartment 3
Alaei
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran

Read more about the Alaeis’ AIDS and human rights work and their unfair imprisonment.

Check out this great article from Paul Grondahl at the Albany Times-Union about the Alaeis:

Forum a chance to urge freedom

Supporters of doctors jailed in Iran seek to rally support for their release

By PAUL GRONDAHL, Staff writer

First published: Friday, February 12, 2010

ALBANY — Dr. Kamiar Alaei, a University at Albany public health doctoral student and an internationally recognized AIDS physician, remains confined after 18 months in an Iranian prison with his brother, Arash, also an AIDS doctor.

On Monday, supporters will have an opportunity to press for their release during a session at the United Nations, which coincides with an appeal from the brothers’ lawyer and a lobbying campaign.

The brothers, who ran AIDS clinics in Iran for several years that offered treatment to IV drug users, were sentenced last year to 3 to 6 years on charges of plotting to overthrow the government after a one-day secret trial in December 2008. They were sent to Tehran’s notorious Evin prison and placed in solitary confinement for months.

The group organizing efforts to win the freedom of the Alaei brothers, Physicians for Human Rights, called the charges trumped-up and politically motivated. The group’s slogan is ”Treating AIDS is not a crime.”

“The Alaeis’ lawyer is hopeful about the appeal, but it’s important that people keep up the campaign to free the doctors because the human rights situation has gotten worse since the elections in June,” said Sarah Kalloch, director of outreach for Physicians for Human Rights.

The group is urging people to contact Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, to press for the brothers’ release during the Monday session, at which she can question Iranian officials on the country’s human rights record as part of a U.N. review.

“We want Ambassador Rice to use that opportunity to question the Iranians on the status of the Alaeis because it’s very hard to get information on what’s happening to them,” Kalloch said.

Supporters of the AIDS doctors have been harnessing the power of social networking media such as Facebook and Twitter. They’re hoping to win their release through a large-scale, relentless public opinion campaign, which is credited with helping to win the freedom of journalists Roxana Saberi and Maziar Bahari, who were also held in prison in Tehran. Bahari is a Newsweek reporter and filmmaker from Montreal who made a documentary on the Alaei brothers. He was released from Evin prison last fall after four months, just in time to witness the birth of his first child.

“Maziar continues to be a strong advocate for the release of the Alaeis,” Kalloch said. “Social networking media was very important in his release and we hope use it to free the AIDS doctors.”

Paul Grondahl can be reached at 518-454-5623 or by e-mail at pgrondahl [at] timesunion [dot] com.

How to help

To urge Ambassador Susan Rice to press Iranian leaders for the release of the Alaei brothers during a Monday U.N. session, call her office at (212) 415-4062.

More about the campaign to win the AIDS doctors’ release can be found on the Background page, as well as earlier blog posts.

PHR sent letters to more than 20 countries urging their UN reps to ask about the Alaeis during the Universal Periodic Review. This is PHR’s direct letter to Ambassador Rice:

February 11, 2010

Amb. Susan Rice
U.S. Mission to the UN
via fax:  212-415-4053

Dear Ambassador Rice,

I am writing to you concerning the forthcoming seventh session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In this session, the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran will be reviewed under the UPR procedure on February 15.

I am hoping the US delegation in Geneva will be able to register early in the speaker’s list, to ask questions of the Iranian delegation regarding the massive crackdown on demonstrators protesting against unfair elections in June 2009, as well as the long list of cases of political prisoners, including many who were imprisoned even before the current unrest.

Physicians for Human Rights is gravely concerned about the case of Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei, two brothers in Iran who were known internationally for their work in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. In June 2008, on the eve of their departure to an international conference in Mexico on HIV/AIDS, the two physicians were arrested and charged with “communication with an enemy government” and “seeking to overthrow the government“ under Art. 508 of the Iran Islamic Penal Code. They were also tried on other, unspecified charges not made known to their lawyer or themselves and for which no evidence was produced.

Their only offense in fact had been traveling around the world and liaising with health workers to find solutions to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. At a closed, one-day trial in December 2008 where they were denied due process and adequate defense, the brothers were sentenced to three and six years, respectively, and incarcerated in prison in Tehran. We fear for their health and their lives in the abusive Iranian prison system.

We also fear for the state of public health innovation in Iran. Iran can not equate public health diplomacy and the quest for shared solutions to the world’s collective disease burden to treason. It is a serious fallacy and a danger to the people of Iran to keep science stifled and dedicated medical professions in prison for doing their job.

Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei had close ties to the US because they had studied in the US for a time. Dr. Kamiar Alaei was — at the time of his arrest — a doctoral candidate at SUNY Albany School of Public Health. He received his masters in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2007, and was named a 2008 Asia 21 Fellow by the Asia Society in New York. Arash Alaei later joined his brother in New York for a study tour, during which time they worked with harm reduction and prison HIV groups across the state to share knowledge on HIV prevention innovations.

Since their arrest, the Alaeis’ colleagues and classmates have campaigned vigorously on their behalf, gaining the support of the American Medical Association.  Together with other doctors in dozens of countries around the world they have been organizing Global Days of Action and contacting Iranian embassies to press for the release of the Alaei brothers. The New York Academy of Sciences also gave the Alaei brothers the 2009 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award.

In recent weeks, there has been some indication that the Iranian government may be prepared to release some political prisoners. During this time when Tehran may be willing to make concessions, we urge you to use your good offices to ensure that the case of the Alaei brothers is included on the list of cases and ensure that their plight is remembered.

We hope that your delegation can find ways to mention the plight of the Alaei brothers in public questions and statements and in bilateral negotiations at the UN Human Rights Council. The case of these two doctors has been submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, as they defended the right of HIV/AIDS patients to obtain access to health care and remain free of discrimination and persecution.

If you would like further information on Drs. Kamiar and Aresh Alaei, visit http://iranfreethedocs.org

Sincerely,

A.  Frank Donahue, CEO
Physicians for Human Rights

One year ago, Dr. Kamiar Alaei and his brother Dr. Arash Alaei were sentenced to prison in Iran. Iranian officials accused the brothers of using trips to AIDS conferences in the US and around the world to “foment a velvet revolution.” They were convicted on charges of communicating with an enemy government — the US — all because they reached out to scientists from around the world to help prevent HIV.

We say: Treating AIDS is not a crime.

(For more on the Alaeis’ story, see Background)

Now, the UN is reviewing Iran’s human rights record — and we need the US and other governments to stand up for the rights of these two Iranian physicians. Join us TODAY for a National Call-In Day to free Arash and Kamiar Alaei.

The UN Universal Period Review is a new mechanism that reviews the human rights record of every country, once every four years. Iran is up for review during the 7^th Session on the UPR, which runs Feb 8- 19, 2010.

Member states can pose questions to the Iranian delegation on February 15^th. Ask UN Ambassador Susan Rice to ask about the Alaei brothers, and to urge Iran to grant their appeal and release them. If you are not from the US, please convey similar requests to your UN representatives.

Call Ambassador Rice today at 212-415-4062 and use the following script. You have just 16 seconds: make them count!

Ambassador Rice, my name is ______ and I am from city/state or country. During the Universal Periodic review, please urge Iran to free Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei, who have been imprisoned in Iran since 2008. Treating AIDS is not a crime: please urge their release during the UPR this month.

PHR is sending formal letters to Ambassador Rice and other key UN representatives about the UPR and the Alaeis, which will give these leaders more details about Kamiar and Arash and their case, but we need you to add your voice to the call for their release.

Take part in the National Call-in Day today–16 seconds can make a big difference for Kamiar and Arash. Call Ambassador Rice today at 212-415-4062 — and tell six friends to do the same. We must tell Iran: Free the Alaeis. Treating AIDS is NOT a Crime!

Thanks to all of you for your continued support of the Alaeis. We are hearing good news out of Tehran: the Alaeis’ lawyer has filed another appeal and is hopeful that this one will be granted. Check out the article in the Boston Globe, also quoted below, for more details.

In the meantime, we are gearing up for action around the UN Universal Periodic Review, a mechanism that evaluates the human rights record of every country every four years. Iran will be reviewed February 15, 2010. We’ll need your help to make sure the Alaeis are on the agenda.

To highlight their case, we are organizing a National Call-in day next week — check back here for details on how you can contact UN Ambassador Susan Rice and urge her to ask the Iranian delegation about the Alaeis, and demand their release.

Lawyer says two Iranian doctors may soon be released on appeal

By Farah Stockman

Globe Staff / January 23, 2010

WASHINGTON – Two celebrated Iranian AIDS doctors with ties to Boston who were convicted in Iran of trying to overthrow the regime could soon be released from prison on appeal, according to their lawyer.

“Their case is very hopeful,’’ attorney Masoud Shafie said in a recent telephone interview from Iran.

Kamiar Alaei, who earned a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Public Health, and his brother, Arash Alaei, started a string of AIDS clinics in Iran and participated in the first State Department-funded exchange program with Revolutionary Iran in 2006, which included tours of medical facilities in Boston and meetings with Boston-area doctors.

Initially, the Iranian government appeared to support their work. But in June 2008, they were arrested and accused of “communications with an enemy government’’ and “seeking to overthrow the Iranian government.’’

In January 2009, after a one-day trial, Kamiar was sentenced to three years in prison and Arash was sentenced to six, according to Physicians for Human Rights, a Cambridge-based organization that has been petitioning for their release.

Thousands of people from around the world and hundreds from Boston’s medical community have organized events and written letters to push for their release, including former classmates at Harvard’s School of Public Health and the school’s dean, Barry R. Bloom.

“Their peers have kept their case in the news and on the front burner for human rights organizations, even though the human rights situation in Iran has gotten a lot more complex,’’ said Sarah Kalloch, director of outreach at Physicians for Human Rights.

Rumors of their release have been circulating for weeks.

In a recent telephone interview, Shafie, a prominent Iranian defense lawyer, said he launched an appeal “based upon the fact that America is not a hostile state and we are not at war with them.’’

The three-judge appeals panel accepted his request that the conviction be overturned, he said, and now he is waiting for final approval from the head of Iran’s judiciary, Sadeq Larijani.

It is unclear whether two others convicted with them – Silva Harotonian, a maternal health worker for an international organization, and Mohammad Ehsani, a filmmaker – will be released.

AIDS, health and human rights groups in 20 countries—the US, Mexico, Argentina, Guyana, Thailand, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Germany, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Turkey–took action Tuesday to free the Alaeis.

• Thailand: The Thai Treatment Action Group met with the Iranian Ambassador to Thailand in Bangkok.
• Guyana: Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, the Minister of Health in Guyana and President of the World Medical Assembly, liaised with The Iranian Embassy in Venezuela to demand their release and garnered significant media coverage on the case in the Caribbean.
• Kenya: A PLWA group in Kenya sent a letter to the Iranian Embassy in Nairobi.
• Canada: The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network sent a letter to the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa and will involve their parliament in this case.
• Italy: MEDU in Italy talked to press in Rome and sent a statement to the Iranian Embassy in Italy.
• Turkey: The Turkish Medical Association alerted its members to the case.
• Netherlands: The International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organizations mobilized its members to sign the petition and sent a letter to the Iranian Embassy in the Netherlands
• Argentina: 10 leading health and human rights groups sent a letter tot he Iranian Ambassador in Buenos Aires demanding the Alaeis be released.
• Geneva: The Health Workforce Advocacy Initiative sent a statement urging the Alaeis’ release to the Iranian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva

The World Medical Association, The EU, and The International AIDS Society have all called for the Alaeis release. Indeed, the scientific and medical community is rallying around Kamiar and Arash: Nature Magazine and the Lancet and the British Medical Journal have all condemned their conviction as a violation of scientific freedom.

The world is watching. Iran, Free the Docs!

We’ll continue to post statements and photos from events around the world; stay tuned!

Welcome to the first—and we all hope—only Global Day of Action for Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei. We are here in New York, on the steps of the UN, under the flags of every country, which is incredibly symbolic of today. We are not alone in this fight for freedom, and neither are the Alaeis.

Physicians for Human Rights has been working with a phenomenal coalition of organization, friends and colleagues to free Kamiar and Arash since their imprisonment last June. It’s amazing to see so many of you here—and to know how many more are joining us in spirit, and at an online virtual vigil, to which we are being live streamed right now; everyone say hello to the world!

Today, AIDS and human rights groups are contacting Iranian embassies in 20 counties. Thousands of people from 130 countries have signed petitions calling for the Alaeis’ release. The Thai Treatment Action Group has already staged a rally in Bangkok. The Minister of Health in Guyana is liaising with The Iranian Embassy in Venezuela to demand their release. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network is involving their parliament in this case. MEDU in Italy are talking to the press in Rome. The Turkish Medical Association is alerting its members.

The World Medical Association, The EU, and The International AIDS Society have all called for the Alaeis release.

Indeed, the scientific and medical community is rallying around Kamiar and Arash: Nature Magazine and the Lancet and the British Medical Journal have all condemned their conviction as a violation of scientific freedom. Dr. Julio Frenk, Former Minister of Health of Mexico, Dean of Harvard School of Public Health and one of the world leaders who rushed to solve swine flu, has called their conviction a danger to the free exchange of knowledge need to improve global health and fight pandemic, from AIDS to the flu.

Arash and Kamiar were arrested in June 2008. The Iranian government accused the brothers of using trips to AIDS conferences in the US and around the world to “foment a velvet revolution.” We say treating AIDS in not a crime. Iran can not equate public health diplomacy, and the quest for shared solutions to the world’s shared disease burden, to treason.  It is a dangerous and maddening fallacy and a danger to the people of Iran to keep science stifled and scientists in jail.

As you all may know, the Alaeis were tried in a ½ day sham trial December 31, 2008. In January 2009, Arash and Kamiar were convicted of communicating with an enemy government and sentenced to 6 and 3 years in prison, respectively. Their first appeal was opened March 18 and denied March 19; their lawyer was told of the appeal denial April 6 and had one month to stage a final appeal under Article 18 of the constitution. This is their final appeal. They are innocent of these charges. Iran is creating political theatre that is endangering the lives of people living with AIDS across the world. This must stop, and it must stop now.

Iran just released Iranian-America Journalist Roxana Saberi as a demonstration of Iralmic Kindness. It is time Iran extend that concept of kindness to the Alaeis—and the thousands of people living with AIDS in Iran who depend on people like the Alaeis to find prevention, treatment and care innovations that save lives.

Today we’re going to hear from Hadi Ghamnei, an expert on human rights in Iran and coordinator of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, as well as Dr. Sharon Stancliff, Medical Director of the Harm Reduction Coalition and a friend and colleague of Kamiar and Arash. We’ll then open the floor to anyone else who’d like to say something—anything—about the Alaeis, about HIV/AIDS, about human rights, about freedom, about saving lives, about friendship, about dancing and foosball—anything the brothers love and care about.

Thank you for standing up for human rights, as do the Alaeis every day. Kamiar and Arash have not let their imprisonment stop them from defending the health and human rights of Iranians. We’ve heard from colleagues that the brothers are volunteering at the Evin Prison health clinic, illustrating their love of medicine, of science, of the people of Iran.

They won’t stop practicing medicine, and we will not stop until Kamiar and Arash are free.

The leadership of Ambassadors of Change, an AIDS and human rights group out of Nakuru, Kenya, sent a statement on Alaei Day to the Iranian Ambassador to Kenya, urging the release of the Alaeis, and encouraged others in Kenya to support scientific freedom for all.

Letter from Ambassadors of Change, a Kenyan AIDS and human rights group, to the Iranian Embassay in Kenya

Buenos Aires, 12 de mayo de 2009

Sr. Encargado de Negocios

de la Embajada de la República Islámica de Irán en Argentina

S. E. Dr. Mohsen Baharvand

Apreciado Dr. Mohsen Baharvand:

Nos dirigimos a usted con motivo de nuestra profunda preocupación por los hermanos iraníes, Dr. Kamiar Alaei y Dr. Arash Alaei. Los Drs. Alaei son líderes internacionales en la prevención y el tratamiento del SIDA y están detenidos en la prisión de Evin en Irán desde junio de 2008. Fueron juzgados y condenados por el cargo de “comunicación con los gobiernos del enemigo” en enero de 2009. Estos cargos son injustos y carecen de fundamento, y las organizaciones abajo firmantes instan al Gobierno iraní a liberar a los hermanos Alaeis inmediatamente. Cada día en que los Alaeis están entre rejas es otro día en que sufre la salud pública iraní.

Arash y Kamiar supieron el 20 de enero de 2009 que habían sido declarados culpables y condenados a penas de tres y seis años respectivamente, en la prisión de Evin. Su abogado presentó un recurso de apelación el 9 de febrero de 2009. El Tribunal de Primera Instancia en Irán abrió el recurso de casación el 18 de marzo de 2009 y a los hermanos les fue negado el recurso un día más tarde, el 19 de marzo de 2009. Su abogado fue informado de la decisión del tribunal el 6 de abril de 2009. Él tuvo un mes, a partir de esa fecha, para recurrir a esta sentencia en virtud del artículo 18 de la Constitución de Irán.

Los Drs. Alaei ayudaron a desarrollar el primer programa de reducción de daños en Irán, que ganó el reconocimiento por ser uno de los programas modelos de las mejores prácticas de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. En el último decenio, han apoyado una red de clínicas en 67 ciudades y 57 centros penitenciarios para proporcionar tratamiento para las infecciones de transmisión sexual y las drogadicciones. Los hermanos Alaei han trabajado con los líderes religiosos de Irán para garantizar el apoyo a campañas de educación sobre la transmisión del VIH. También desarrollaron el programa de capacitación “Salud Global en el Oriente Medio y Asia central” para médicos en Afganistán, Turkmenistán y otros países vecinos con el fin de mejorar el tratamiento del VIH / SIDA en la región.

Como parte de su trabajo, los Drs. Arash y Kamiar Alaei expusieron en conferencias internacionales sobre la salud mundial y el VIH / SIDA, y fueron reconocidos por la BBC y otras organizaciones internacionales de prensa, por su trabajo en la salud pública y el SIDA. El 19 de enero, los Dres. Kamiar y Arash Alaei fueron condenados a tres y seis años, respectivamente, por “las comunicaciones con un gobierno enemigo” y por tratar de derrocar al gobierno iraní según el artículo 508 de Irán del Código Penal Islámico. El gobierno fundamentó los cargos en sus viajes a los mencionados eventos internacionales de salud. Tales acusaciones hieren el futuro de la salud pública y los tratamientos del SIDA, la innovación depende de la colaboración.

Si los médicos presos participan de alguna guerra, esta guerra es la batalla contra el VIH / SIDA. Colaborar con colegas a través de las fronteras para encontrar mejores tratamientos para enfermedades complejas no es un crimen – es una buena medicina. Revistas científicas de renombre mundial entre ellas las revistas The Lancet, Nature y el British Medical Journal, han hecho hincapié en la necesidad crítica de abrir el diálogo científico y médico, y han condenado la detención de los Drs. Alaei por socavar la salud pública en todo el mundo.

Miles de líderes médicos, premios Nobel y ciudadanos de todo el mundo ya han pedido la liberación de los Alaei. Con esta carta, las organizaciones abajo firmantes se suman al llamamiento internacional para su liberación. Es imperativo que se les permita regresar a su trabajo por el bien de los avances de la medicina mundial y por el bienestar de la población de Irán.

Esperamos oír de la Embajada iraní sobre este caso. Por cualquier información, por favor póngase en contacto con Intercambios Asociación Civil al 4954 7272 o al correo electrónico intercambios@intercambios.org.ar.

Lo saludamos con distinguida consideración,

1. Graciela Touzé, Presidenta Intercambios Asociación Civil, Ciudad de Buenos Aires gratouze@intercambios.org.ar
2. Kurt Frieder, Director Ejecutivo Fundación Huésped, Ciudad de Buenos Aires kurt.frieder@huesped.org.ar
3. Juan Carlos Purriños, Presidente Fondo Ayuda Toxicológica, Ciudad de Buenos Aires fat@sinectis.com.ar
4. Sergio Gustavo Sensini, Presidente Juntos por la Vida, Rosario (Santa Fe) sergiosensini@yahoo.com.ar
5. Esther Gladys González,Presidenta O.F.E.S. (Organización Familiares Enfrentando al Sida), Rosario (Santa Fe) ofes@arnet.com.ar
6. Marcela Pomerantz, Directora “Prevenir es Cuidar”, Rosario (Santa Fe) pomerantzmarce@yahoo.com.ar
7. Nelson Feldman, Médico Asociado Service d’Addictologie HUG-Hôpitaux universitaires, Ginebra (Suiza) Nelson.Feldman@hcuge.ch
8. Eugenia Aravena, Secretaria General AMMAR CORDOBA, Córdoba  cordoba@ammar.org.ar
9. Graciela Biagini, Prof. Titular Cátedra Sociología de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Buenos Aires -Directora de la línea de investigación Actores Sociales y Sida, Ciudad de Buenos Aires gbsalud@yahoo.com.mx
10. Alicia Gillone, Coordinadora del área Salud de la Asamblea Permanente por los Derechos Humanos, Ciuidad de Buenos Aires agillone@fibertel.com.ar

Buenos Aires, 12 de mayo de 2009

Comunicado de Prensa

Día Mundial de Acción por los hermanos Alaei

Hoy 12 de mayo se lleva adelante una campaña mundial por la liberación de los hermanos Alaei.

Diversos grupos e instituciones de la Argentina que trabajan en la lucha contra el VIH/SIDA, enviaron hoy una carta a la Embajada de Irán en Argentina en apoyo a los hermanos iraníes, Dr. Kamiar Alaei y Dr. Arash Alaei*. Los Drs. Alaei son líderes internacionales en la prevención y el tratamiento del SIDA y están detenidos en la prisión de Evin en Irán desde junio de 2008. Fueron juzgados y condenados por el cargo de “comunicación con los gobiernos del enemigo” en enero de 2009.

Según fuentes iraníes, estos cargos se han basado, en parte, en el extenso viaje que Arash y Kamiar hicieron a diversas conferencias de salud pública en los EE.UU. y otras partes del mundo. “Physicians for Human Rights” (Médicos por los Derechos Humanos) consideran que tratar el SIDA no es un delito, es buena medicina. Los hermanos fueron mantenidos incomunicados durante dos meses antes de que se les diera acceso a un abogado y a la familia a finales de agosto de 2008.

Desde la detención de los dos médicos, miles de profesionales de la salud en más de 85 países han pedido al Gobierno iraní que libere a los hermanos, y los principales médicos y expertos en salud pública y asociaciones han emitido un llamamiento para su liberación. Para obtener más información sobre este caso, consulte www.iranfreethedocs.org

Prensa: Intercambios Asociación Civil

(54 11) 4954 7272

intercambios [at] intercambios [dot] org [dot] ar

Medici per i Diritti Umani ( MEDU) – Doctors for Human Rights Italy released the following press statmenet in English and Italian in commemoration of the Global Day of Action for the Alaeis:

12 May 2009: Global day of action for the liberation of iranian doctors Kamiar e Arash Alaei

Doctors for Human Righs joins the global campaign “Free the docs” promoted by Physicians for Human Rights

Medici per i Diritti Umani ( MEDU) – Doctors for Human Rights – rises an appeal for the liberation of the two iranian doctors Kamiar e Arash Alaei, who were tried on charges of communicating with an enemy government and elaborating subversive plans against the Islamic republic of Iran.

The two doctors, who have been engaged for years in research activity and prevention of HIV/AIDS and Tubercolosis, are detained since 22 June 2008 in Tehran’s Evin prison. The charges against them are based on the frequent journeys abroad, mainly in USA, that the doctors undertook to take part to international conferences on medical issues. In January 2009, they were sentenced to 3 years (Kamiar) and 6 years (Arash) in prison.

Their work contributed to the scientific progress and the interregional co-operation among 12 Middle-Eastern countries; it has been declared a model of best practice by the World Health Organisation.

The legal proceeding against the doctors did not respect, for the time being, the international standards of due process. The charges against them, regarding their hypothetical involvement in subversive actions against Iran government, are only based on vaguely-worded national security laws . MEDU voices deep concern about the doctors being targeted only because of their medical research work internationally recognised, for their awareness-raising activities, and for their pacific co-operation with non-governmental organisations of other countries.

In the global day of action for the Alaei brothers, MEDU takes action for their liberation, so that science and human rights are granted and protected at any time, in every place.

12 Maggio 2009: Giornata mondiale per la liberazione dei medici iraniani Kamiar e Arash Alaei

Medici per i Diritti Umani aderisce alla campagna mondiale “Free the docs” promossa da Physicians for Human Rights

Medici per i Diritti Umani (MEDU) lancia un appello per la liberazione dei due medici iraniani Kamiar e Arash Alaei, arrestati con l’accusa di complotto e presunti piani sovversivi nei confronti della Repubblica Islamica d’Iran.

I due medici, da anni impegnati nella ricerca e prevenzione di HIV e Tubercolosi, sono rinchiusi dal 22 Giugno 2008 nel carcere Evin di Teheran. Alla base delle accuse contro di loro vi sarebbero stati i frequenti viaggi all’estero, in particolare negli Stati Uniti, a cui i due medici hanno preso parte per seguire conferenze internazionali su tematiche sanitarie. Nel Gennaio 2009 i due scienziati sono stati condannati rispettivamente a 3 (Kamar) e 6 anni (Arash) di reclusione.

Il loro operato ha contribuito al progresso scientifico, alla cooperazione interregionale tra dodici paesi del Medio Oriente ed è stato considerato esemplare dall’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità. Il procedimento giudiziario a carico dei due medici non ha, fino ad oggi, rispettato gli standard internazionali di correttezza processuale. Del resto le accuse contro i fratelli Alaei circa il loro possibile coinvolgimento in azioni sovversive nei confronti del governo, sono state basate esclusivamente su leggi di sicurezza nazionale formulate in modo generico. MEDU esprime viva proccupazione per il fatto che i due medici rappresentino un obiettivo solo per il loro lavoro di ricerca medica riconosciuto a livello internazionale, per le attività di sensibilizzazione e per la loro collaborazione pacifica con organizzazioni non governative di altri paesi.

Medici per i Diritti Umani, in occasione della giornata mondiale per la liberazione dei fratelli Alaei, si attiva per il loro rilascio, affinché scienza e diritti umani vengano sempre e ovunque garantiti e tutelati.
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Per ulteriori informazioni: http://iranfreethedocs.org/

Medici per i Diritti Umani (MEDU), organizzazione umanitaria e di solidarietà internazionale, cerca di essere presente, con l’azione e la testimonianza, laddove il diritto alla salute ed i più elementari diritti umani vengono negati. www.mediciperidirittiumani.org info@mediciperidirittiumani.org tel. 3343929765

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) si adopera affinché la professione medica contribuisca attraverso la protezione dei diritti umani alla promozione della salute e della dignità di ogni persona. In qualità di membro fondatore della Campagna internazionale per il bando delle mine antiuomo, PHR è stata co-insignita del premio Nobel per la pace 1997. www.physiciansforhumanrights.org

MEDU e PHR aderiscono all’ International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organisations (IFHHRO) .

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health, Guyana, and President of the World Health Assembly, issued the following appeal on behalf of Arash and Kamiar Alaei in commemoration of the Global Day of Action for the Alaeis. Dr. Ramsammy’s statement was covered by national media in Guyana, and he was also interviewed by the BBC and Carribean Radio Network (CRC) about this c

ase.

As a Minister of Health, a public health professional, an activist against HIV, and as the President of the World Health Assembly, I am saddened by the continuing imprisonment of Arash and Kamiar Alaei, two Iranian physicians and public health professionals. I join my public health colleagues around the world to add my voice in seeking a just resolution to this unfortunate incident.

Whatever the perceived missteps of the Alaei brothers, they have suffered enough and I pray and hope the Government of Iran would intervene to ensure the freedom of two public health professionals so that they can continue their work in public health in Iran.

The present issue is not about attribution. It is about making it possible for two talented and dedicated public health professionals to contribute to the achievement of the MDGs and better health for all people, particularly Iranians.

The possibility of better health for all is one that attracted Arash and Kamiar Alaei to the public health arena. The quest for better health is a common goal of all of human kind. The realization of better health for all needs the combined talents and commitment of public health professionals like the Alaei brothers.

Arash and Kamiar Alaei’s commitment to the prevention and control of HIV in Iran and around the world brought them in close collaboration with a global team working to ensure HIV is brought under control. This kind of collaboration has resulted in significant inroads against HIV. The future of the world depends on continued inroads against HIV. No one is served, none benefits when anyone of us is taken away from the fight.

I am certain that the Iranian Government and the people of Iran share the same values of justice and mercy and the global quest for health and long lives for all of our peoples. I have followed the struggles of the Iranian people and their Government over decades to ensure that the Iranian people are able to live a decent and dignified life. I admire the pride of the Iranian people. It is for these reasons that I am confident that a re-examination of the circumstances would result in the freedom of my public health colleagues and brothers.

A mistake has been made and if the Alaei brothers have contributed to the mistake, I am hoping that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would ensure that two of his Iranian brothers are given the opportunity to contribute further to the successful confrontation against HIV in Iran and globally.

I join my public health colleagues around the world to appeal to President Ahmadinejad to do whatever is possible that these two public health professionals could be freed and resume their important contributions to public health in Iran and globally.

Dr. Sharon Stancliff, the Medical Director of the Harm Reduction Coalition in New York City, and a friend and colleague of Kamiar and Arash, made the following statement at the New York City Vigil on May 12, 2009:

Doctors Arash and Kamiar Alaei came to New York over 5 years ago to learn from our drug treatment, harm reduction and HIV services. They tirelessly visited numerous clinics and services engaging the physicians and other service providers in discussions about patient care.

They came here to learn but they taught us as well.  The triangle model of harm reduction, drug treatment and HIV treatment is unique; it is recognized as a best practice by the World Health Organization and the brothers were surprised to learn that we have no similar services in New York.  They made strong impressions on all who came into contact with them, as their thoughtfulness and dedication to their patients was so apparent. These men have helped to bridge the gulf between Iran and the United States in developing professional relationships and friendships.

Kamiar enrolled in the doctoral program at Albany State University and we had planned to work together on an overdose prevention project so that he could bring this service back to Iran.

In addition to continuing their work in Iran they have been able to bring an Islamic perspective on HIV and substance use to other countries such as Tajikistan and Afghanistan where they have offered courses and symposia. They are world leaders in this area and I still hope someday to work with them in Islamic communities in East Africa where drug use has added to the burden of HIV.

But for now, all of this has been halted since Kamiar and Arash have been imprisoned on charges that have no bearing on the reality of their work. They have worked transparently to better the lives of people with HIV and substance use- people who are stigmatized and marginalized all over the world. Because of their work the world is a better place. We are calling on the Iranian government to free Arash and Kamiar Alaei so that they may return to their families and to their work. Colleagues and friends in 125 countries around the world join us in this call. Arash and Kamiar are our colleagues but for many of us they are our friends. It is unthinkable that they are imprisoned; it brings many of us pain daily. Please continue to speak out for Kamiar and Arash Alaei. We need these brilliant and caring physicians back among the ranks of those providing humanitarian and innovative care for people with HIV and substance abuse. They are irreplaceable.

The Global Day of Action for the Alaeis has launched with a coast to coast media blitz. The New York Times, Boston Globe and LA Times all called for the release of the Alaeis in Editorials today. The New York Times pointed out the treacherous working condition for professionals in Iran and called the Alaeis’ trial unfair and their sentences “horrifying.”

The Boston Globe wrote:

“If Iran’s leaders want to convey a message of conciliation and justice, they should have (Arash and Kamiar Alaei) exonerated.”

Media coverage of the case is world-wide. BBC Persia has interviewed PHR’s Washington Director John Bradshaw, and the case is being covered by Italian Press, Radio Free Europe and more.

Want to help draw attention the Alaeis? Surf the blogs and make comments on articles mentioning the Alaeis, and/or write letters to the editor at national and international news agencies about the Alaeis, urging their release.

Roxana Saberi’s release yesterday has shifted attention to the Alaeis just as they are about to exhaust their legal options. Iran tied her release to the concept of Islamic kindness: it’s time for Iran to extend that kindness to the Alaeis, so they can continue their critical fight against AIDS in Iran.

Join the virtual vigil 11-1:00 today to hear from and chat with people around the world, and stand in solidarity with the Alaeis.