Doctors, medical students rally at Iranian U.N. Mission to free imprisoned colleagues

          
          Doctors, Medical Students Rally at Iranian UN Mission to Free Imprisorie... http://physiciarisforhuimririgl ls.org/library/news-2008-09-24.ltil
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          PHR CAMPAIGNS
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          Dartur -
          Survival
          Campaign
          September 24, 2008
          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          Doctors, Medical Students Rally at Iranian UN Mission
          to Free Imprisoned Colleagues
          Media Contacts:
          Jonathan Hutson
          Chief Communications Officer, PHR
          jhutson [ at] phrusa [ dot] org
          857-919-5130
          Today at noon, Physicians for I
          Human Rights (PHR) and a coaLition
          of heaLth and human rights groups
          heLd a siLent vigiL and press
          conference in front of the Iranian
          Mission to the United Nations (622 3rd Avenue, NY) to caLL for the
          reLease of two imprisoned Iranian Physicians. Dr. Kamiar ALaei and his
          brother Dr. Arash ALaei , both internationaLLy known HIV/AIDS doctors,
          have been detained without charge by the Iranian government in the
          notorious section 209 of Irans Evin prison since Late June 2008. To
          date, the brothers have been aLLowed onLy one meeting with their
          attorney and famiLy. The event was timed to coincide with Iranian
          President Ahmadinejads visit to New York City for the UN GeneraL
          AssembLy.
          For over a decade, the brothers have worked in and promoted cLinics
          to treat drug addicts and other vuLnerabLe popuLations in prisons and
          in communities in Iran. Iran has the worLds highest rate of intravenous
          drug users - a phenomenon that drives the countrys HIV/AIDS
          epidemic. The brothers work has been supported by reLigious Leaders
          and Ira ns Ministry of HeaLth, whose harm reduction programs to treat
          injecting drug users have become modeLs in the region and beyond.
          Doctors and medicaL students wore their white coats to symboLize
          soLidarity with their imprisoned Iranian coLLeagues. They aLso carried
          Large posters showing the faces of the brothers and the web address of
          a cLearing house site Launched by PHR - IranFreeTheDocs.org . The site
          offers updates on the campaign, and an onLine petition. To date, more
          than 3200 individuaLs - mostLy heaLth professionaLs - from 85 countries
          have signed the petition in support of the Drs. ALaei. The List incLudes
          many of the worLds Leading AIDS researchers and physicians.
          p . --
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          03/08 2010 13:45
        

          
          Doctors, Medical Students Rally at Iranian UN Mission to Free Imprisorie. .. ltp://pllysiciarisforhun'Eririgl ls.org/library/news-2008-09-24 .lt ll
          “As a physician in training, I beLieve it is imperative for heaLth
          professionaLs to speak out in defense of human rights of our coLLeagues
          at risk. Dr. Kamiar Ataei shouLd be in ALbany now, continuing his
          second year of doctoraL studies at SUNY SchooL of PubLic HeaLth where
          he is enroLLed,” said ALi Khan, a medicaL student at Virginia
          CommonweaLth University SchooL of Medicine and a board member of
          PHR. His brother, Dr. Arash ALaei, shouLd be preventing and treating
          HIV/AIDS at a cLinic in his home region of Kermanshah in northwest
          Iran. Instead, these two respected HIV/AIDS physicians are Languishing
          in prison.
          “Students from SUNY ALbany SchooL of PubLic HeaLth have traveLed to
          the Iranian Mission to the UN today to speak out in behaLf of their
          missing cLassmate, Kamiar,” said SUNY ALbany SchooL of PubLic HeaLth
          Assistant Professor, Punkin CLay Stephens, one of Kamiars professors.
          “We urge Iran to reLease the Drs. Ataei so that they may continue their
          Life saving work for the benefit of the peopLe of Iran and the worLd.”
          ALthough the physicians have stiLL not been formaLLy charged, the
          prosecutor investigating their case has stated in interviews with the
          Iranian press that they are suspected of fomenting a “veLvet
          revoLution.” He has cited as evidence the fact that the Drs. ALaei have
          traveLed to internationaL AIDS conferences, drawn the attention of
          internationaL non-governmentaL organizations, and recruited and
          trained peopLe in pubLic heaLth. That's not a crime, that's good
          medicine, said Khan. “As the UN GeneraL AssembLy convenes this
          week, governments shouLd be fuLfiLLing the UN's MiLLennium
          DeveLopment GoaLs on Prevention and Treatment of AIDS, not
          persecuting their prominent pubLic heaLth Leaders,” he added.
          Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) mobilizes the health professions to
          advance the health and dignity of all people by protecting human
          rights. As a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban
          Landmines, PHR shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.
          Date posted: September 24, 2008
          Last updated: June 22, 2009
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