Today, December 22, marks the sixth-month anniversary of Iran's detention of Dr. Arash Alaei and Dr. Kamiar Alaei -- Iranian brothers who are known worldwide as HIV/AIDS physicians. Physicians for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, and The Harvard Friends of the Alaeis are asking Iran to free them immediately. Since late June, the brothers have been held in Teheran's notorious Evin prison.
In an exclusive interview, the brothers' attorney in Teheran, Masoud Shafie, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran the Drs. Alaei were indicted this month on charges of "communicating with an enemy government." Shafie said that under article 508 of the Islamic Penal Code, anyone found guilty of communicating with an "enemy government" shall be sentenced one-to-ten years in prison.
These charges are illegitimate and politically motivated, say international NGOs, academic institutions, and medical leaders from across the globe.
Prosecuting the Alaeis is likely to have a chilling effect on the Iranian medical community’s ability to share their work and learn from global experts, which could undermine the health of the Iranian people.
According to international media reports, the Alaei brothers have 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.
That's not a crime; that's good medicine.
How You Can Help
Over 3,100 people from more than 85 countries have signed an online petition demanding their release, which can be viewed at IranFreeTheDocs.org. Please sign today, and forward this link to friends, family, and colleagues.
Several of the world’s most accomplished HIV/AIDS and health experts—including the Global Fund executive director, Professor Michel Kazatchkine; the Partners in Health co-founder, Dr. Paul Farmer; Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, 2008 MacArthur Foundation Fellow MPH; Hossam E. Fadel, MD, of the Islamic Medical Association of North America; a 1993 Nobel laureate in medicine, Sir Richard Roberts PhD, FRS; and the Ugandan AIDS pioneer Dr. Peter Mugyenyi, have signed a letter urging the Alaei brothers’ release.
Dr. Kamiar Alaei
Dr. Kamiar Alaei is a doctoral candidate at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health in Albany, New York and was expected to resume his studies there this fall. In 2007, he received a master of science degree in Population and International Health from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
Dr. Arash Alaei
Dr. Arash Alaei is the former director of the International Education and Research Cooperation of the Iranian National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. Since 1998, the Drs. Alaei have been carrying out HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs, particularly focused on harm reduction for injecting drug users.
In addition to their work in Iran, the Alaei brothers have held training courses for Afghan and Tajik medical workers and have worked to encourage regional cooperation among 12 Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries. Their efforts expanded the expertise of doctors in the region, advanced the progress of medical science, and earned Iran recognition as a model of best practice by the World Health Organization.
European Union: Drop the Charges
On August 6, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union 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.