It looks like imprisoned Iranian American journalist Roxana Saberi will have her day in court next week. When will other imprisoned Iranian human rights advocates get theirs? Drs Kamiar and Arash Alaei developed innovative HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs that have saved thousands of lives in Iran. They collaborated with the international scientific community to share their knowledge and expertise with other countries. Instead of being rewarded for their diplomacy, they have been convicted of fomenting revolution.
As I've posted before, the case of Roxana Saberi is strikingly similar to that of Drs Kamiar and Arash Alaei. Just as Iran has conflated freedom of the press with espionage in the arrest of Saberi, Iran has equated public health diplomacy with treason-- a dangerous stance in this era of global pandemics which require open medical collaboration to save lives. May 6th was a final deadline for the Alaei's lawyer to file an appeal under article 18 of Iran's Constitution. This appeal is their last chance to have their day in court, be acquitted of the baseless charges and resume their lifesaving HIV/AIDS work
The international human rights and HIV/AIDS community has organized an Global Day of Action for the Alaei's on May 12 that is taking place in over 16 countries. We'll be standing up to say "Treating AIDS is Not a Crime" and demand Kamiar and Arash's immediate release from prison. Through the use of innovative web technology we will be coordinating a Virtual Vigil that will feature live streams of vigils happening in NYC, DC and other locations world wide. You'll also be able to chat online with vigil organizers and other participants from around the world.
Physicians for Human Rights believes that treating AIDS in not a crime—it’s good medicine. The Alaei brothers traveled the world to share Iran’s model of HIV prevention and treatment, not to recruit people to foment a "velvet revolution,” as alleged by the Iranian government. Such allegations hurt the future of public health and AIDS treatments, two fields in which innovation hinges on collaboration.
According to an editorial in Nature
One of the acts that apparently attracted suspicion was the brothers' participation alongside US government officials in two US–Iranian health-diplomacy round tables held in the United States in 2006 and 2007. The meetings were run by the Aspen Institute, a non-governmental organization founded in 1950 to provide an impartial international forum on major policy issues. The chair of one of the sessions introduced it proudly as one of the "first formal dialogues for almost 25 years" between Iran and the United States.
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such dialogue — 'smart power' — should be encouraged by all sides, because cooperation in the relatively apolitical areas of medicine and science keeps open rare avenues of back-channel diplomacy. Unfortunately, 'dumb power' is currently prevailing. The action of the Iranian judiciary in this case can have only a chilling effect on such activities, and there have been ill-considered moves elsewhere.
If you believe that treating AIDS is not a Crime, then please join us in this international day of solidarity for Drs Kamiar and Arash Alaei.
*If you are in NYC or DC attend a vigil on May 12.
*Release a statement from your organization or send a letter to the Iranian Ambassador. We have a sample letter and statement to download here.
*Sign the Petition Demanding their release and forward to friends and colleagues.
*Join our Virtual Vigil on May 12 from 11am-1pm EST