After being held without charge for over 6 months last year in Iran , Drs. Arash and Kamiar Alaei were subjected to a perfunctory, one-day trial in December 2008. They were charged with communicating with an enemy state and with other secret charges which neither they nor their attorney were allowed to see evidence for or address. Arash and Kamiar were sentenced to 6 and 3 years in prison, respectively, on what we believe are politically motivated and illegitimate charges leveled in a patently unfair court proceeding.
Their day job is actually to treat AIDS patients. Not only are Arash and Kamiar in danger here, but also all AIDS patients in Iran if physicians end up being afraid of treating them.
Update – Olga wrote in a comment:The detention of the Alaeis is a tragic blow to the progress of AIDS medicine in Iran and worldwide. Please join us for the Global Day of Action for the Alaeis on May 12 and tell the Iranian Government with one loud and clear voice that “Treating AIDS is Not a Crime!” There are over 16 different countries participating on May 12th, including vigils in New York and D.C. Find a location near you at IranFreeTheDocs.org. We will also be broadcasting live from the vigils at the Iranian Embassy in NYC and Washington DC. You can join us here: http://iranfreethedocs.org/virtual-vigil/
