Politics wins over HIV/AIDS: Two prominent Iranian HIV/AIDS doctors jailed for nine years

[Guest guest]

Politics wins over HIV/AIDS: Two prominent Iranian HIV/AIDS doctors jailed for

nine years

Two prominent Iranian HIV/AIDS doctors jailed for a total of nine

years for their part in an alleged coup plot.

Iran HIV/AIDS dedicated Medical Brothers Dr. Arash Alaei and Dr.

Kamyar Alaei were accused of being " key elements " in a plan Iran said

was backed by the CIA. The prison sentences were imposed after a

secret trial after which Arash was sentenced to six years in prison

and Kamyar to three years.

Iran's state media quoted the Intelligence Ministry as saying the men

were among four people engaged in " creating social crisis, street

demonstrations and ethnic disputes " . The two other defendants have not

been named.

It is a matter of great concern and bad on the part of Islamic

Republic of Iran firstly for forcibly detention (without charges)

since end of June 2008 and now imprisonment.

As an AIDS activist we all should urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to

release them immediately.

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 ation of the Iranian

National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

Since 1998, Dr. Arash Alaei and Dr. Kamiar Alaei have been carrying

out programs dealing with HIV/AIDS, particularly focused on harm

reduction for injecting drug users in the war-torn province of

Kermanshah, on the West Coast of Iran.

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.

They were key organizers of a tri-national meeting in 2004 in Tehran to discuss

harm reduction and substitution treatment in Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

At that meeting, Iran's programs proved to be inspiring role models for the

region, according to medical experts who participated in the meeting.

The Drs. Alaei's work has addressed the most disadvantaged populations and

patients in the country.

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.

More over no evidence was also not produced to show that Arash and Kamyar Alaei

were engaged in anything other than international collaboration to fight the

spread

of HIV and Aids.

The Iranian government has not formally charged them with a crime, nor have they

allowed them access to family or counsel which is a clear violation of the

brothers' human right of access to due process of law.

I, as a friend of Doctors Kamiar Alaei and Arash Alaei, express a

great concern over their imprisonment. had the unique opportunity of

interviewing the young Doctors at Bangkok at 15th International AIDS

Conference and Dr.Kamiar at 3rd IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and

Treatment held at Rio, Brazil.

Kamiar was at Boston with his International Health education program

at Harvard School of Public Health and had a deep concern of improving

the Health system of Iran.

Alike me, Kamiar could not participate in the International AIDS

Conference held at Toronto but was very much excited to participate in

this year Mexico Conference. Dr. Arash was scheduled to present about

his work on treatment and prevention for injecting drug users in the

Conference.

At Mexico with the support Iranfreethedocs.org, we ran a signature

campaign also for the release of Doctors. PHR created a petition

calling for the Iranian government to release or formally charge the

brothers. International AIDS Society, IAS also called for their

release, but nothing worked out. This is indeed shameful for all of us

as a part of International AIDS Community and will definitely bring a

negative name to the war of mankind against HIV/AIDS.

I still remember the great moment spend with these two brothers and is

eagerly waiting for their release.

I urge all of you to raise your voice against this serious issue and we all

should work to draw International attention to brothers' plights and must

advocate on their behalf.

Dr. JASVINDER SEHGAL

e-mail: <jasvindersehgal@...>