Physicians for Human Rights and 20 countries demand Iran release AIDS doctors

          
          Physicians fbr Human Rights and 20 Couzties Demand Iran R.elease AD.. http://physiciansforhun'Enrights.org/ library/news-2009-05-12.hUT ll
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          May 12, 2009
          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          Physicians for Human Rights and 20 Countries Demand
          Iran Release AIDS Doctors
          Media Contacts:
          Josephine Lee
          617-301-4208
          jlee [ at] phrusa [ dot] org
          A NobeL Peace Prize Laureate
          organization and a coaLition of
          heaLth and human rights activists
          heLd simuLtaneous events in New
          York, Washington, DC, and 20
          countries on Tuesday to caLL for the reLease of two Iranian physicians
          imprisoned since June.
          Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) organized the “GLobaL Day of Action
          for the ALaeis to demand the reLease of Drs. Kamiar and Arash ALaei,
          worLd-renowned HIV/AIDS speciaLists who were indicted in December
          by the Iranian government on charges of communicating with an
          enemy government. The raLLies and PHRs campaign work on behaLf
          of the ALaei brothers were noted in editoriaLs in Tuesdays New York
          Times, Los AngeLes Times and Boston GLobe.
          The brothers traveLed across the US and the worLd to share Iran's
          modeL of HIV prevention and treatment. The Iranian government
          aLLeges they were working to recruit peopLe to foment a “veLvet
          revoLution .“
          “Such aLLegations hurt the future of pubLic heaLth and indicate a
          dangerous trend toward punishing heaLth professionaLs for working in
          the US or having US citizenship,” said Sarah KaLLoch, PHR's Director of
          Outreach. Physicians for Human Rights beLieves that treating AIDS is
          not a crime—it's good medicine.”
          In January, Kamiar and Arash ALaei were sentenced to prison terms of
          three and six years respectiveLy in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison.
          According to sources cLose to the brothers' case, the appeLLate court
          received their appeaLs on March 17 and the foLLowing day—without a
          hearing—rejected their appeaLs and upheLd their sentences.
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          Physicians fbr Human Rights and 20 Couzties Demand Iran Release AD,. http://physiciansforhuimnrigl ls.org/library/news-2009-05-12hutil
          Their attorney, Massoud Shaffiie fiLed a finaL appeaL on May 7 to Iran 's
          judiciary chief AyatolLah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi under ArticLe 118
          of the Iranian Constitution.
          “It appears that the jaiLing of peopLe on trumped-up charges has more
          to do with appeasing the conservatives in advance of Iran 's nationaL
          eLections in June, said Jonathan Hutson, PHRs Chief Communications
          Officer. “The case of these physicians is part of a crackdown on
          internationaL scientific and academic exchange, which undermines
          efforts of aLL who seek to protect the heaLth of the Iranian peopLe.”
          “Imprisoning AIDS doctors who are getting vitaL heaLth services to
          peopLe with and at risk of HIV—incLuding peopLe who inject iLLegaL
          drugs—is not onLy a vioLation of basic human rights, its aLso a
          prescription for further spread of the epidemic,” said Richard ELLiott,
          Executive Director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS LegaL Network.
          Dr. Kamiar ALaei is a doctoraL candidate at the SUNY ALbany SchooL of
          PubLic HeaLth in ALbany, NY and was expected to resume his studies
          there in the faLL of 2008. In 2007, he received a Masters of Science
          from the Harvard SchooL of PubLic HeaLth. 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 doctors have worked on HIV/AIDS treatment and
          prevention programs in Iran, particuLarLy focused on harm reduction
          for injecting drug users. Their efforts heLped earn Iran recognition as a
          modeL of best practice by the WorLd HeaLth Organization.
          Tuesdays vigiLs were heLd at RaLph J. Bunche Park across from the UN
          in New York City, and the Iranian Interests Section at the Embassy of
          Pakistan in Washington, DC. Protestors represented 20 countries
          incLuding Argentina, BuLgaria, Germany, Guyana, Hungary, ItaLy,
          Kenya, MaLaysia, Mexico, NetherLands, PoLand, Russia, South Africa,
          SwitzerLand, ThaiLand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, and the US.
          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: May 12, 2009
          Last updated: June 22, 2009
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          Physicians fbr Human Rights and 20 Couzties Demand Iran Release AD.. http://physiciansforhuimnrigl ls ,org/library/news-2009-05-12 ,hutil
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