P} . Criticizes Iran for Trying ADS Doctors on Secret Charges ltp://physiciarisforhunEIrlgl lsorg/ library/news-2008-12-31lthl
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December 31, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHR Criticizes Iran for Trying AIDS Doctors on Secret
Charges
Media Contacts:
Jonathan Hutson
jhutson [ at] phrusa [ dot] org
Cell: +1 857-919-5130 (English)
The Iranian governments December
31 triaL of Dr. Arash ALaei and Dr.
Kamiar ALaei - Iranian brothers who
are known worLdwide for their work
as HIV/AIDS physicians - denied
fundamentaL requirements of due process because, according to
reports received by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), the prosecutor
refused to discLose aLL the charges against the accused and denied
their right to confront and defend themseLves against their
accusers. The triaL today aLso sends an ominous signaL regarding the
Iranian Governments crackdown on internationaL scientific exchange.
PHR CAMPAIGNS
The doctors have been heLd in Tehrans notorious Evin prison since
Late June 2008. They were indicted in December on charges of
communicating with an enemy government according to their
attorney, Masoud Shafie.
On December 31, the Iranian prosecutor tried the brothers in Tehrans
RevoLutionary Court on these charges, and aLso informed the court of
additionaL, secret charges which the brothers attorney had no
opportunity to refute, because the prosecutor did not discLose either
the charges or the evidence on which they are based.
Irans faiLure to reveaL the nature of the secret charges against the
doctors makes it impossibLe to determine if the charges have any
factuaL basis,” stated PHRs CEO Frank Donaghue. He added, To aLL
appearances, the arrest and now the triaL of these two prominent and
wideLy-traveLed AIDS doctors seem to be an effort to shut the door on
medicaL and pubLic heaLth coLLaboration on gLobaL heaLth crises.. .a
poLicy that is dangerous for the weLL-being of the Iranian peopLe and
for gLobaL heaLth.
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03/08 2010 13:38
P} . Criticizes Iran for Trying ADS Doctors on Secret Charges ltp://p liysiciarisforhunEIrlgl ls ,org/ library/news-2008-12-31.lt hl
PHR stated that the pubLicLy announced charges are iLLegitimate and
without credibLe foundation. PHR noted that there are cLear vioLations
of due process in this case. In order to have a fair triaL according to
the standards of internationaL human rights Law, Iran must safeguard
the doctors right to know the evidence against them and their right to
confront and cross-examine their accusers. A defendants right to hear
and confront witnesses against him is a fundamentaL guarantee of Life
and Liberty. Without knowing the evidence or even the charges against
him, an accused person has no opportunity to heLp his attorney make
his defense or chaLLenge the evidences reLevance or reLiabiLity.
Iran shouLd free these brothers immediateLy, so that they can
continue their Life-saving pubLic heaLth work for the benefit of the
peopLe of Iran and the worLd, stated Donaghue.
The brothers have aLready been detained two months Longer than
Iranian penaL code aLLows, Shafie said earLier this month, in an
excLusive interview with the InternationaL Campaign for Human Rights
in Iran. According to Shafie, ArticLes 30-34 of the Code of PenaL
Procedure of the IsLamic RepubLic of Iran aLLow for detentions but
require that the investigating judge issue such detention orders for
one month at a time and for no Longer than four months.
The brothers are aLso LegaLLy eLigibLe for baiL, but the judge in the case
has not issued baiL nor heLd a baiL hearing.
Over 3,100 doctors, nurses and pubLic heaLth workers from more than
85 countries have signed an onLine petition demanding their reLease,
which can be viewed at lranFreeTheDocs.org . Leading physicians and
pubLic heaLth speciaLists and numerous medicaL and scientific
organizations have pubLicLy caLLed for the brothers reLease .
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 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.
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P} . Criticizes Iran for Trying ADS Doctors on Secret Charges ltp://physiciarisforhunEIrlgl lsorg/ library/news-2008-12-31lt hl
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: December 31, 2008
Last updated: June 22, 2009
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