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PHR CAMPAIGNS
LW
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.
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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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