Iranian doctors now freed
1 December 2011. Related: Other news.
Simon Collins, HIV i-Base
Two doctors, who raised awareness for testing and treatment of HIV in Iran and who were the focus of a human rights campaign have now both been released. Doctor Arash Alaei and Doctor Kamiar Alaei were detained in June 2008 by Iranian authorities without cause and without charges or trial. [1]
The physicians, who are brothers, were held for over six months before being tried. On 31 December 2008, the brothers were tried as conspirators working with an ?enemy government? to overthrow the government of Iran in a one-day, closed-door trial. They were also tried on unspecified other charges which neither they nor their lawyer were allowed to know. [1]
In the autumn of 2010, Kamiar Alaei was released from Evin Prison after serving two years of his three-year sentence. He moved to the US and worked for the release of his brother.
In August 2011, Arash Alaei was also released from Evin Prison after more than three years of a six year sentence. He rejoined his mother and other family members in Tehran and anticipates the resumption of his life-saving work, as well as reuniting with his brother, Kamiar, and sister in the US.
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a campaigning organisation that raised the profile of Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei. We included this as a new item in October 2008 as their situation was also highlighted prominently at the IAS conference in Mexico City. [2]
Both doctors received the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights in June 2011. [3]
A video of the brothers speaking about their detainment and release can be viewed online. [4]
References
1. Dr. Arash is Freed! PHR news feature. (29 August 2011).
http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/blog/dr-arash-is-freed.html
2. Free The Iranian HIV/AIDS Doctors! HTB October 2008.
3. Alaeis Honored at Global Health Council Event. PHR news feature. (17 June 2011).
http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/blog/alaeis-honored-at-global-health-council-event.html