Welcome to the Physicians for Human Rights Virtual Vigil for Kamiar and Arash Alaei. People not attending one of the vigil locations on May 12 can join us here, from 11 am to 1 pm EST. We will be streaming live video from vigil locations in New York City, Washington, DC and elsewhere. You will also be able to talk with PHR organizers and other participants from around the world.
Please leave a comment below to let us know you’ve stopped by and what country you are from.
See the videos from Cambridge, MA
Vigils around the Globe
View Global Alaei Day 2009 in a larger map
Live Streams from the Vigils
On May 12, 2009, some who have the technology will broadcast live video streams from their vigils for the Alaeis. We would like to bring together all live vigil video streams on this page; leave a comment below with the location you’ll be streaming from and your Qik username or the URL for your Ustream show. (More information here.)
Twitter, Flickr, Blogs and Other Social Media
If you are documenting your vigil on Twitter, Flickr, or on a blog or on any other social media, tag it alaeiday and so we can follow what you are doing and alert people to it here. To add the alaeiday tag on Twitter, type #alaeiday somewhere in your tweet.
Picture the Docs!
A slideshow from the lives of the Alaei brothers, and pictures of some of their supporters.
This is horrible and will hopefully be remedied by the Iranian government because of international pressure. Unfortunately though, the current administration has historically not been amenable to this kind of persuasion. Here’s to hoping that things change!
[...] This post was Twitted by phrTweets – Real-url.org [...]
Will attempt to attend virtual vigil, but may be sleeping at that time r/t working 7p-7a.
here’s to standing up and demanding their release.
I am from the United States.
WE demand Iranian Government to release them as soon as possible !!!!
I am writing to urge Iran to immediately release Drs. Kamiar and
Arash Alaei – two prominent Iranian HIV/AIDS collegues
imprisoned since June 2008.
Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!
Viel Glück! …
The Iran Project of Women Against War, Capital District of New York State, USA, joins our hearts and voices in the effort to release Kamiar and Arash Alaei, internationally acclaimed workers in the fight against AIDS.
Many of us have met Kamiar who was studying at SUNYA School of Public Health and who attended a send-off for two of our members who travelled to Iran with the December 2007, FOR delegation of Citizen Diplomats.
We hope that justice will be done so that these two scientists, and humanitarian workers can be released after nearly 10 months of false arrest and that they can get back to their important work of treating and preventing AIDS and substance abuse.
here’s to standing up and demanding their release.
Iran free the docs!!! Maria from Germany
I personally know the Alaeis. They are very dedicated to the HIV/AIDS cause and have done much work to advance HIV policies in Iran and elsewhere. There is no reason to imprison them. They should be released as soon as possible.
Under Sheria law it is a crime to do the things that spread AIDS/HIV. The real problem then is Sheria law! The Iranian people have got to demand a better and more modern form of government and system of law.
We demand Iranian Government to release them as soon as possible !!!!
Hope freedome will come soon all over the world, with respectfull human rights for ALL people.
Free doctors Arash & Kamiar Alaei.
We should urge Iran to immediately release Drs. Kamiar and
Arash Alaei . See you all at 11:00am.
hopefully this will make them realize.
An incomprehensible & tragic situation that must be rooted in a profoundly bigoted & hate-filled response to the HIV Epidemic that won’t go away (or indeed be made manageable) by imprisoning the very People at the forefront of combating this disease in Iran & elsewhere.
Free the Doctors & Free Them Now!
Please Iran, release the doctors.Treating HIV patients is not a crime
I made a toast to the Alaei brothers -at the 2009 Iranian Medical Society of Greater Washington Norouz Gala -commending them for pioneering one of the finest HIV harm reduction programs in the world and for their compassion reaching neglected populations including prisoners and consoling families with children suffering from HIV/AIDS.
The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran instilling fear on the medical community stunts the growth in the medical field in and out of Iran, Unfortunately it is always the patients who suffer the most in the end. Depriving the freedom for these doctors to continue with life saving procedures, is a crime against humanity.
I would like to encourage you to support these brothers if you have not yet done so by signing the petition http://iranfreethedocs.org and calling the Iranian Mission to the United Nations in support of these doctors. With our own organization we have seen that it truly makes a difference.
In peace and solidarity,
Nazanin Afshin-Jam
President and Co-Founder
Stop Child Executions
http://www.stopchildexecutions.com
This has been going on long enough. We need people fighting AIDS to be free to do their lifesaving work!
I’m from Ukraine. I’m sure we should fight AIDS, but nor people, who are fighting AIDS.
Free the Docs.. This is enough of it. Why is there no Justice for people who are commited to save lives? Is saving lives rewarded with incarceration?
Today I’m writing again to urge Iran to immediately release Drs. Kamiar and
Arash Alaei – two prominent Iranian HIV/AIDS collegues
imprisoned since June 2008.
This is disgusting, free the Alaeis!
I am a German Doctor and I absolutely demand the Iranian Government release the Alaeis brothers immediately.
This is my twelfth day of Hunger Strike against Arbitrary Detentions, Torture of Prisoners, Stoning Sentences, Execution of juvenile offenders, Numerous Death Penalties and to Support ARASH and KAMIAR ALAEI and all other political Prisoners and others who resist against the managed presidential “election” and for free and fair elections in IRAN .
Free the physicians! Justice must prevail.
[...] This post was Twitted by marikurisato – Real-url.org [...]
Hi Everyone! Its Margeaux from Physicians for Human Rights – I hope to see everyone back here in a couple of hours for our virtual vigil! This is a very simple way to stand in solidarity with the doctors on this Global Day of Action. Please be sure to leave a comment when you come and let us know you are here. Thanks! See you soon!
[...] Virtual Vigil [...]
We demand Iranian Government to release them as soon as possible.
I am from Brasil.
[...] Virtual Vigil [...]
The International Community of doctors, nurses, and HIV advocates, and ordinary citizens are watching the Iranian Government deprive its citizens from life saving health care from two dedicated professionals. I am very surprised and shocked that ignorance and fear have replaced rational logic in Iran. I am sure the people of Iran notice the injustice too. Change is most certainly required for Iran to join the rest of the world. Please release these Physicians—for the sake of the good people of Iran. HIV and AIDS has no boundaries, so in a very real way this is an international concern, not simply a political action.
[...] Join the virtual vigil at IranFreeTheDocs.org 11-1:00 today to hear from and chat with people around the world, and stand in solidarity with the Alaeis. [...]
I join with all AIDS Health care providers standing together in the dark corners of the world to shine the light for the human right of freedom to care for human beings with serious health issues. The whole world is watching and each of these stories, like so many in Iran today, can go either way to convince the world that Iran, this historical centre of culture, science and advancement in the world, wishes to have a serious place at the 21st century global table or whether they choose to instead appear as a rogue state needing to cower out back, unwelcome at the global table of civilized countries, no seat of welcome for those who act like this.
Please free my friends Kamiar and Arash who stand for peace, international dialogue and earnest treatment of HIV positive people. Their work has been a credit to their country and the whole world and I cannot conceive any truth behind the charges of which they have been sentenced.
I am a public health student and researcher at Columbia University. This virtual vigil is such a wonderful idea and for such an important cause.
It is a doctor’s duty to care for ALL the sick, regardless of their illness, and without judgment, and if that is what Doctors Arash and Kamiar ALAEI did, it is completely unethical to expect them to do anything else but their work, and to condemn them for caring for their patients.
Virtual vigil in France
Free the Doctors!!
Holding vigil for the Alaei brothers in Kabul, where both they and I have done public health work. I had the great privilege of serving on a panel with Dr. Kamiar Alaei at an Iranian Alliances Across Borders annual meeting in NYC in 2007. He didn’t say anything even vaguely political to me about Iran’s government. Only that it was forward thinking it its treatment of IV drug abusers, prisoners, TB and HIV patients. I sincerely hope they will be released sooner than their sentences indicate.
Free the doctors.
From a nation that used to be one of the most civilized nations in history….has succumbed to actions due to ignorance, bigotry and total arrogance.
What is the basis of such detention and arrest? If providing education, care, awareness and prevention is sinful and taboo in any culture (and I mean culture – as all religions encourage one to be educated, care and be aware) then that culture needs to be reviewed and improve itself for its own self preservation and the preservation of humanity. This is 10 steps back for Iran.
A nation that is ready to accept and develop nuclear energy technology, but cannot accept matters that means the most to a human being. Dignity, self-esteem and self preservation.
The dark ages are over.Its time to progress for the sake of development of the intellect as well as the country’s own economy – for its own people. Move forward for God’s sake.
Treating AIDS is not a crime!
Wonderful idea this virtual vigil
The plight of the Alaei brothers represents the most flagrant of human rights violations – that which attempts to stifle a societal movement toward a rights-based, socially just culture.
The Alaei brothers’ actions aren’t acts of treason – they’re good medicine.
As a doctor of Chinese Medicine who has worked with HIV patients since 1990, I want to join the virtual vigil and say “Free the Doctors” they are doing the work every doctor should be doing in Iran and every where else in teh world.
Shad Reinstein,LAc
Sending support from Arizona!
Free the doctors. Free the speech. Free the minds.
hi everyone. on way to vigil site at un. see you all soon
Hi Everyone! Its Margeaux here please go into the resources tab and click on the link letters to the Iranian policy makers to release a statement. If you havent already please make sure you have signed the petition and please send it to friends! Thanks
The treatment of HIV/AIDS is not a crime! Free the Doctors Kamiar and Arash Alaei immediately!
Could you tell us about the public health work the Alaei brothers have done in Iran?
I do not understand how doctors could be imprisoned simply for doing their job to fight a disease. I couldn’t imagine how terrible it would be to have my doctors jailed for doing their job.
I signed the petition as soon as I heard about it. I was shocked that something like this could happen.
Best wishes.
With hope and expectation,
Jenny
PHR Senior Research – Rick Sollom will be available now to answer questions about the Alaeis Please post your questions in these comment boxes
This is atrocious.
We hear that Iran has made great positive strides in treating their opiate addicted patients, even the incarcerated ones; how is this compatible with repressing the professionals treating HIV infected individuals, many of them due to contaminated injecting paraphernalia?
Hope this changes soon.
What does the Iranian government hope to gain by unjustly imprisoning two doctors who only want to improve the health of their people and people around the world? Kamiar and Arash must be set free to continue their great work.
My dear friends, Kamiar and Arash, I miss you.
Are the Alaei brothers involved in HIV/AIDS efforts outside Iran? Thanks, John
Hi Amy – The Alaei doctors won praise from the WHO, the public health arm of the United Nations, for helping pioneer HIV treatment and prevention in Iran — particularly among injecting drug users. Right now 2.8% of Iranian adults are heroin addicts — the world’s highest rate — and sharing needles fuels the spread of HIV. The Alaei brothers championed harm reduction and worked with Iran’s drug addicts, prisoners, and sex workers to prevent transmission. To combat the spread of HIV, they distributed sterile needles and prescribed methadone to treat opioid dependence. They also dispersed condoms and counseled their patients in safe-sex practices.
Iran will benefit more from the Alaeis being free than from keeping them in jail. People of Iran needs them out as soon as possible. And if Iran government truly cares about its country and its people, Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei have to be released now.
Arash and Kamiar are being used by Iranian government for political / propoganda purposes and to sow fear among democratic groups in Iran and outside. No real legal charges have been brought up against them and they have not had access to adequate legal representation to defend their rights. They should be released.
Kaveh
Thanks for your question, John — Yes, the Alaei doctors also worked outside Iran, for example, they trained Afghan and Tajik medical workers and encouraged regional cooperation among a dozen Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries. Their efforts improved the practice of doctors in the region, advanced HIV medical science, and helped earn Iran recognition as a model of best practice by the WHO. Even religious clerics with the Iranian government praised their work on harm reduction and HIV prevention.
Health care should not be political. Please allow these physicians to help your population.
Free the Doctors!
Treating AIDS is not a crime!
Free Iran from I.R. EVIL
Why have the doctors been detained? They have done such great work, what are the allegations?
Treating AIDS is NOT a Crime – it’s good medicine
Make sure to watch the live broadcast of the DC vigil at 12 pm at the Iranian interests Section at the Embassy of the Pakistan. They will be taking action just like you and telling the Iranian government and the world that Treating AIDS is NOT a Crime!
Hi Julia – In January this year, the Iranian Revolutionary Court sentenced Arash to 6 years and Kamiar to 3 years imprisonment for “fomenting a velvet revolution” while supposedly garnering Western support at international conferences. Both physicians DID participate in global health conferences, but neither ever spoke of politics or security or revolution. Instead, they acted as public health ambassadors and celebrated their love of Iranian culture.
The doctors were doing important public health work for the benefit of Iranian citizens. Please let them get back to work.
These doctors study for many years to help people/patients. They should be free to choose how to help their patients. Free the Doctors.
How does this case affect US relations with Iran?
Because having or receiving treatment for AIDS it’s not a crime.
I stand with you, facing this grave injustice, for those in need everywhere.
This case is horrifying on many levels: from imprisonment with no credible criminal evidence and neglect of any fair trial process to the damage of the future of public health via this dangerous trend toward punishing health professionals for working in the US.
But the echoing messages of everyone here and speaking out worldwide gives hope that the Alaeis case will not be brushed aside. These violations cannot be ignored in any hope for a respect of human rights and public health advancement in Iran.
Proud to be part of this community with you all,
D
It is a perfect day to be having these public displays for Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei, since Roxana Saberi was just released. Her freedom today shows what the power of the Press and the power of your stand in NYC, DC and this week in Cambridge can do. Thank you all who are at these rallies for these two men and therefore for ALL who are in prison under false charges. .
Hi Dr. Kretschmar – As the Obama Administration attempts to engage the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has seemed intent on undermining any diplomatic overtures. The release of the American journalist, Roxana Saberi, today however is a positive step for improved relations between the 2 countries, but others, like the Alaei brothers, are still locked up on similar trumped-up charges. During a 1-day secret trial in January 2009, the Iranian government charged the Alaei doctors for having “communications with an enemy government.” The judicial court condemned the doctors of having ties to the CIA and being funded by the US State Department — accusations that both the US government and the Alaei brothers deny. That the American journalist was released today is a good sign for improved relations because it came out that in fact the Iranian government did not consider the US to be a hostile government, so how then could she be charged with working for an enemy government, her lawyer argued successfully. We hope the same will hold true for Kamiar and Arash.
Sending support from Washington DC.
Please FREE Kamiar and Aresh.
They are GOOD doctors who LOVE their country and just want to help people.
Please help release them.
Amy Hart
Hey guys refresh your browsers and check out the DC vigil going on live right now! And in 15 minutes we will be broadcasting the New York vigil outside of the UN with dozens of the supporters calling for the immediate release of the Alaeit brothers! Keep posting your comments!
Looks like the vigil in DC had a great turn-out.
Great job team!
Jesse Jackson is speaking now at the DC vigil!! I you havent already refresh your browser and check it out!
Hey all! Great job with the vigil keep up the good work. I just saw on the blog that the Alaei brothers case was mentioned in the editorial pages of the New York Times, LA Times, and Boston Globe. Here’s the link for those of you who haven’t read them yet!
http://phrblog.org/blog/2009/05/12/alaei-day-opens-with-editorials-in-new-york-times-boston-globe-and-la-times/
New York City UN vigil broadcast starting in 2 minutes – dont miss out!!
From Phoenix
Thanks to everyone who has been posting comments and letting us know you are here. It is great to see people participating and supporting the doctors. On the page as well is a great slideshow of the pictures of the doctors lives and supporters like you who have participated in the photo petition.
New York City vigil is up! Refresh those browsers and watch them in action!
Hey everyone! It’s Zak from PHR. NYC Vigil is LIVE right now!! Refresh your browser and click “play” on the video screen to hear the action outside the UN building!!
More support from Washington, DC, USA.
Treating a viral infection is NOT a crime.!
Free the good doctors!
Kamiar and Arash are heroes in their field and an inspiration to others. It is my hope that events like today’s vigil will continue to rally support to expedite their freedom from imprisonment in Tehran.
People with AIDS deserve access to care – doctors who provide it are promoting justice.
Participate in the global day of action by:
* Signing the petition and send it to everyone you know
* Go to the resources tab above print out the Treating AIDS is NOT a Crime sign and upload it here: Uploading click on http://drop.io/hidden/f0je8z354ywova/upload
* Go to the resources tab above and click on the link for releasing a statement to the Iranian policy makers – all you have to do is address the letter and add your name (names and address are provided on the second page)
We can stand together and make a difference to get these doctors released! We say Treating AIDS is NOT a Crime!
In solidarity with the Drs.
The faculty and students of the University at Albany’s School of Public Health look forward to the day when Kamiar can return to his studies here surrounded by his friends and colleagues and to the day when Kamiar and Arash can return to the work they are meant to do, the important work of public health professionals. Kamiar and Arash, as well as every member of their family, are in our thoughts and hearts every minute of every day. We’ll rejoice when they are set free.
Showing my support from Oakland, CA
I support the work of these dedicated doctors to fulfill their oathes to help those suffering from AIDS or HIV and urge the Iranian leadership to show their compassion and open their hearts by releasing them immediately.
Thank you PHR and Pete Witzler for informing me. Alice Andrus
The faculty and students of the University of Washington School of Nursing are anticipating the day when Kamiar can return to his studies and to the day when Kamiar and Arash can return to the important public health work they are meant to do. Kamiar and Arash, as well as every member of their family, are in our thoughts and hearts every minute of every day. We’ll rejoice when they are set free. Ignorance and hate has spread this disease around the world and people like Kamiar and Arash are trying to prevent this spread from happening in Iran. Iran does not have the means to deal with a widespread HIV outbreak but it has the means to educate its people in how to prevent the spread of this virus. Let’s not waste this major opportunity to keep every Iranian man, woman and child free from HIV.
Vamos todos ajudar a libertação dos Drs. Kamiar e Arash Alaei, é importante para todos nós.
Hoje somos poucos à manhã seremos muito mais.
Obrigado
I strongly support the work of these doctors and urge their immediate release.
I am joining with the world community of health care providers supporting the vital work of these physicians in educating their own communities about the realities of HIV/AIDS and providing compassionate and medically established care for those affected by this illness. I urge the government of Iran to act responsibly and release the doctors to continue advocating for their patients locally and in the global community.
Please release these doctors that they may continue their work of educating others and providing compassionate help for those affected by this disease.
These phenomenal men MUST BE FREED! I will pray every day for the release so they can go back to making this world a better place.
Dance, when you’re broken open
Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off
Dance in the middle of the fighting
Dance in your blood
Dance, when you’re perfectly free
Mevlana Jelalu’ddin Rumi : Persian sufi mystic
(1207 – 1273)
Just adding my name to all the others demanding the doctors’ release.
Please free all political prisoners who have not committed actual crimes (murder, robbery, physical assault, etc); the world will look much more kindly on you, visit more often, increase income to your beautiful country
From Ecuador we send you hope and strength and will do what we can to contribute.
My God blesses me when I act to ease human suffering. Is your God different? Does your God hold that only some people are worthy of compassion? When you incarcerate a healer, you deprive his patients of the life that God gave them. If you are righteous men, you will correct this error and identify yourselves as agents of mercy. Thank you.
I have been struck by how intelligent and human Iran’s harm reduction work has been when I have met practitioners at HIV conferences. I sincerely pray that this leadership and inspirational work is enabled to continue through government support. May the government release the two doctors and demonstrate more of the Iranian compassion and intelligence I have been privileged to learn about through meeting Iranian public health practitioners. With regards.
Just adding my name to all the others demanding the doctors’ release.
relize the doctors now. hiding the problem is not the solution it will get back very bad in the near future,
Hello from New York, best wishes to the doctors, and much applause for the work you’re doing. It’s an injustice they are behind bars.
[...] Tomorrow, on May 12, Physicians for Human Rights and a coalition of organizations from more than 16 countries will hold a Global Day of Action calling on the Iranian government to drop the charges and immediately release Kamiar and Arash Alaei. Participants from around the world will make statements to Iranian authorities and join a live webcast of vigils and events on an interactive website, IranFreetheDocs.org. [...]
I am a brand communication strategist that blogs for Huffington Post. I refer to Drs Kamiar and Arash Alaei in my recent blog on the UN Human Rights Council titled: “Human Rights Gone Wrong”, here is
a link to that blog http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patt-cottingham/goodbyehello-7-human-righ_b_203088.html
Peace,
Patt Cotingham
I am praying for both Dr. Kamiar and Arash Alaei release and that they unite with thier families!
We are looking forward to seeing them free again
From Iran
It is really unbelievable that there are still such governments so full of ignorance and prejudices..Release the doctors!!!
Treating HIV/AIDS patients is not a crime !