That's what I told BBC World Service when they called to record an interview on the plight of two HIV/AIDS doctors who are being held in Iran. The two Iranian doctors, who are brothers, have been held incommunicado since late June, without access to attorneys or visits from their family.
According to international media reports, they've been accused of fomenting "a velvet revolution." The prosecutor offers as evidence that they've traveled internationally, participated in HIV/AIDS conferences that drew the attention of international non-governmental organizations, and trained people. Those activities are not internationally recognized crimes; that's what freedom looks like.
Please sign the petition at IranFreeTheDocs.org.
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union has called on Iran to release Drs. Aresh Alaei and Kamiar Alaei, who were "arbitrarily arrested" in late June.
The EU states:
In their latest statements, the Iranian authorities have without any foundation accused the Alaei brothers, who are internationally recognised for their work in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Iran, of participating in activities to destabilise the Islamic Republic.
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union calls on the Iranian government to immediately release Arash and Kamiar Alaei and to drop all charges that might be brought against them.
Please sign the petition at IranFreeTheDocs.org.
Barry R. Bloom, Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPI), today expressed "deep concern" about the detention of Kamiar, a 2007 Masters of Science graduate of HSPI, and of his brother Arash.
"There is concern for their welfare, as their whereabouts are unknown, and there has been no communication from them since they were detained in June," stated Dean Bloom. "I join with other public health professionals, organizations and institutions in expressing concern for their safety and well-being."
Please sign the petition at IranFreeTheDocs.org.
BBC World Service reporter Pamela O'Toole told me that our interview had been broadcast in English, but also translated in Farsi and broadcast directly into Iran via the BBC's Persian News Service.
Let's hope they are listening. Please help spread the word at IranFreeTheDocs.org.
The arrest of the Alaei brothers will have a chilling effect on programs to prevent and treat AIDS and HIV infection in Iran.
Sarah Keller, a colleague at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), took this photo yesterday.
Former PHR student chapter leader Pooja Mehta, from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, helps gather petition signatures for PHR’s campaign to free the Alaei brothers at the AIDS Conference in Mexico City.
You can sign, too.