<div dir="ltr"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Maija Kagis</b> <span dir="ltr"><a href="mailto:maija.kagis@sympatico.ca">maija.kagis@sympatico.ca</a></span><br>
<div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="blue" bgcolor="white">
<div>
<div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<hr align="center" width="100%" size="3">
</span></font><b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</span></font></b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <a href="mailto:GTAG@yahoogroups.ca" target="_blank">GTAG@yahoogroups.ca</a> </span></font></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="FLOAT: left">
<div>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt"><b><font face="Calibri" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">AIDS Treatment & Care Pioneers Imprisoned in Iran: brothers Dr Kamiar and Arash Alaei held without charge in Iran<br>
<br></span></font></b><font face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Dear friends, please consider to sign the petition by Physicians for Human Rights on these detained doctor's behalf, or to send a message to Iranian Embassy in Canada or US on their behalf (email address at end of this email).<br>
<br><a href="http://actnow-phr.org/campaign/iran_free_the_docs" target="_blank">http://actnow-phr.org/campaign/iran_free_the_docs</a><br><br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Background: </span></b>At the end of June, 2008, two internationally respected Iranian medical doctors, Drs. Arash Alaei and Kamiar Alaei were reportedly arrested by Iranian authorities and appear to be held in <i><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">incommunicado</span></i> detention in Tehran. These physicians are international experts on HIV/AIDS and have worked for many years on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in the Islamic Republic of Iran and internationally. <br>
<br>Several organization such as PHR, Human Rights Watch, the International AIDS Society, medical and other professionals, individuals and NGOs are advocating for due process for the Alaei brothers, and for respect for human rights. Iran is a signatory to the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. <br>
<br>I am also attaching a message written below by a colleague at Dignitas who studied with Dr Kamiar at Harvard, and one from Human Rights Watch below on the arrests without charge (Jul 22) of two important HIV/AIDs specialists and innovators in Iran, brothers Dr Kamiar Alaei and Dr Arash Alaei. Two doctors at Dignitas studied with Kamiar at Harvard and we and many others are all very concerned about the brother's situation in incommunicado detention.<br>
<br>Please consider to sign and pass on the petition. Any of you who will be in Mexico City at the AIDS conference later this week I hope that we can help raise their case at every opportunity. Thank you in advance, Carol<br>
<br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">More background:<br><br></span></b></span></font><b><u><font face="Helvetica" color="#0900ef" size="1"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; COLOR: #0900ef; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH<br>
</span></font></u></b><b><font face="Helvetica" size="6"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Iran</span></font></b><b><font face="Helvetica" size="6"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">: Release Detained HIV/AIDS Experts<br>
<br></span></font></b><b><font face="Helvetica" size="5"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Arrested Physicians Have Not Been Charged, Whereabouts Unknow</span></font></b><font face="Helvetica"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">n<br>
<br>(New York, July 21, 2008) – Iranian authorities should immediately release or charge two physicians who are internationally recognized for their work on HIV/AIDS, Human Rights Watch said today. The men, Arash and Kamyar Alaei, who are brothers, were detained without charge by Iranian security forces in late June, and their whereabouts remain unknown. <br>
<br>On June 22, security forces detained Arash Alaei, holding him overnight at an unknown location. The following morning, they accompanied him to his home, where they arrested Kamyar Alaei and seized material and documents belonging to the brothers. The authorities have not yet announced why the brothers were detained or whether or not they intend to bring any charges against them. Moreover, they have refused to disclose information about where the Alaei brothers are being held and have not provided them access to counsel. <br>
<br>"Iran's HIV/AIDS program has been acclaimed internationally for seriously addressing the AIDS epidemic," said Joe Amon, HIV/AIDS program director at Human Rights Watch. "To fight AIDS effectively, the government has realized that it must engage in global efforts to combat the disease, work with civil society, and confront taboo issues, including sex and drugs. The detention without charges of the Alaei brothers has a chilling effect on all of those efforts." <br>
<br>Arash and Kamyar are well known in Iran and internationally for their contributions to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs. For more than 20 years, the Alaei brothers have been active in addressing problems relating to drug use, with a focus on the spread of HIV/AIDS, and have played a key role in putting these issues on the national health care agenda. They have worked closely with government and religious leaders to ensure support for education campaigns on HIV transmission, including those targeting youth, and for HIV and harm reduction programs in prisons. They have also worked to share their expertise with neighboring countries by holding training workshops for Afghan and Tajik health care professionals. <br>
<br>Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and as such has strict legal obligations not to carry out arbitrary arrests or detention and to afford due process rights – including the prompt provision of reasons for an arrest and any charges which will be brought, access to counsel, and the right to be brought before a judicial officer to determine the legality of the detention – to anyone detained. <br>
<br>"The Iranian authorities have been holding the Alaei brothers for over three weeks now," said Amon. "Unless they produce some evidence or charges, and bring them before an independent tribunal so they an enjoy due process, they should release the men immediately." <br>
<br>Arash and Kamyar Alaei have traveled to various countries, including the United States, to participate in professional events and to share their experiences regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs in Iran. Kamyar Alaei is currently a doctoral candidate at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health. Neither of the men is known to have any involvement in political activities. <br>
<br>"In two weeks, more than 25,000 people from around the world will gather in Mexico for an international AIDS conference, and Arash is supposed to make a presentation on Iran's innovative HIV program," said Amon. "The focus of the meeting will be on where we are making progress in the fight against AIDS and where we are failing. Iran cannot be considered to be making progress if it is blatantly violating the human rights of two if its most valuable activists in this area.</span></font><font color="red" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: red">"<br>
<br>From Dr Adrienne Chan of Dignitas who studied with Dr. Kamiar Alaei at Harvard in 06/07:<br></span></font><font face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Dear Friends and Colleagues in HIV/AIDS care:<br><br>A schoolmate and friend of mine while I was at Harvard last year, Dr. <br>
Kamiar Alaei, and his brother Dr. Arash Alaei, was recently arrested and <br>imprisoned without charge in Iran. In addition to being my classmate,<br>Kamiar, along with my friend Dr. Margaret Salmon, coauthored a policy paper<br>
on the scale up of HIV care in Iran that was accepted for presentation at<br>The International AIDS Conference 2008 in Mexico City in 2 weeks. <br><br>These physicians are pioneers in setting up treatment and care programs for<br>
people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran and have been widely acclaimed<br>internationally for their program which targets both treatment and<br>prevention. Their families have not been able to speak with them nor have<br>they been allowed legal representation. We are extremely worried. I rarely<br>
send on petitions such as this, but this is a person whom I know personally,<br>and it bothers me greatly that someone whose sole professional and personal<br>goal is to practice medicine can be detained in such a way.<br>
<br>Please take a moment to sign this online petition set up by Physicians for<br>Human Rights, who is currently taking the lead on advocating for their<br>release. I think that there is some efficacy, if you are comfortable with<br>
it, to sign on with your academic or medical affiliation (if you have one)<br>from an advocacy stand point since we want to demonstrate NGO and academic<br>support for them.<br><br><a href="http://actnow-phr.org/campaign/iran_free_the_docs" target="_blank">http://actnow-phr.org/campaign/iran_free_the_docs</a><br>
<br>My friend and colleague Clint Trout, who works for AIDS Healthcare<br>Foundation has posted more information about the Alaei's at these sites:<br><br><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20650248385&ref=mf" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20650248385&ref=mf</a><br>
<a href="http://www.freethealaeis.com/" target="_blank">www.freethealaeis.com<br><br></a>Kamiar and Arash have worked tirelessly and at great personal risk for <br>treatment and care for persons with HIV/AIDS in Iran. Please take a <br>
moment to support them.<br><br>Adrienne<br></span></font><font face="Arial Narrow" color="#7f0000" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #7f0000">Adrienne K. Chan, MD, MPH, FRCPC<br>HIV Clinic Coordinator<br>Dignitas International<br>
PO Box 1071, Zomba, Malawi<br><br><br></span></font><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">IAS CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF IRANIAN CLINICIANS </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">29 July 2008 (Mexico City, Mexico) </span></font><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">–</span></font> <font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The International AIDS Society (IAS) today expressed grave concern over the detention without charges of Doctors Kamiar Alaei and Arash Alaei, two internationally respected Iranian physicians, since their arrest by security forces at the end of June 2008.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">IAS President, Pedro Cahn, called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to disclose the whereabouts of the two detained medical professionals, provide them access to lawyers and family, and either charge or release them immediately.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Dr. Kamiar Alaei is a doctoral candidate at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health, and Dr. Arash Alaei is a former Director of the International Education and Research Cooperation of the Iranian National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Since 1986, the Alaei brothers have sought to integrate prevention and care of HIV/AIDS, sexually-transmitted infections and drug-related harm reduction into Iran's national health care system.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Their HIV/AIDS programs focused on harm reduction for injecting drug users have been widely acclaimed internationally. In addition to their work in Iran, the Alaei brothers have held training courses for Afghan and Tajik medical workers and have encouraged regional cooperation among 12 Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In these activities, Iran's programs proved to be inspiring role models of close work with government and religious leaders to ensure support for education campaigns on HIV transmission and for HIV and harm reduction programs in prisons. Neither of the men is known to have any involvement in political activities.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">They were to have presented a case study showcasing HIV/AIDS and harm reduction in the Islamic Republic of Iran on Thursday, August 7, 2008, at the 17th International AIDS Conference (AIDS2008) in Mexico City. AIDS2008 is the paramount gathering of all disciplines in HIV/AIDS and the premier global conference on any health/development issue held every two years.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">As the world's leading independent association of HIV professionals, with more than 10,000 members from 172 countries and an independent voice in the global response to AIDS, the IAS joins global health professionals, HIV advocates and concerned individuals in asking for their immediate release. </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Ends</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">His Excellency, Iranian Ambassador to Canada</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">245 Metcalfe St</span></font><font size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">Ottawa</span></font><font size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">, Ontario</span></font><font size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt"></span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">K2P 2K2, Canada</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">Tel: (613) 235-4726 / Fax: (613) 232-5712</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">Email: </span></font><a href="http://ambassador@iranembassy.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#1500ff" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; COLOR: #1500ff">ambassador@iranembassy.org</span></font></a>; <a href="http://iranemb@iranembassy.htm" target="_blank">iranemb@iranembassy.org</a></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Or</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mr. Khazaeei, Iranian Ambassador to the UN</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">622 Third Ave. New York, NY 10017</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Tel: (212) 687-2020 / Fax: (212) 867-7086</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">E-mail: <a href="http://iran@un.htm" target="_blank">iran@un.int</a></span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <br><br><br><br></span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD)<br>Coalition interagence sida et développement (CISD)<br>1, rue Nicholas Street, Suite/Bureau 726 <br>
Ottawa ON K1N 7B7 CANADA<br>Tel/Télép (613) 233-7440 ex13 Fax/Téléc (613) 233-8361 <br>Web <a href="http://www.icad-cisd.com/" target="_blank">www.icad-cisd.com<br><br><br></a></span></font></p></div>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" color="white" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: white"><span width="1">__._,_.___</span></span></font> </p></div>
<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 15pt">
<div>
<p style="BACKGROUND: white"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></span></font></p></div></div>
<div>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" color="white" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt; COLOR: white">.</span></font></p></div></div></div></div></div></div>