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Iran prosecutes doctors on secret charges
by Scott Gilbreath ~ January 1st, 2009
Since last June, two internationally renowned doctors have been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison on charges of communicating with an “enemy government”. At trial yesterday, the prosecutor levied additional charges that he refused to specify, making a cogent defence impossible.
The Iranian government’s 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 Government’s crackdown on international scientific exchange.
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“Iran’s 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 PHR’s 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.”
An online petition calling for the brothers’ release has been signed by more than 3100 doctors, nurses, and public health workers from some 85 countries. Also, physicians and other medical experts have sent letters to Iran’s Ministry of Health urging the government to respect the brothers’ rights to confer with legal counsel and meet with family.
Iranian authorities have responded by turning the trial into a Star Chamber proceeding.
h/t: Global Voices
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January 2nd, 2009 at 06:40 PM
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