Omid Kokabee Petition Sent to Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamene’i

This is a copy of the petition that CCS sent to the Grand Ayatollah of Iran in support of graduate student Omid Kokabee.

Petition for the release of Omid Kokabee

To: His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamene’i
The Supreme Leader, The Islamic Republic of Iran
Tehran

Sponsored By: Committee of Concerned Scientists

This petition, signed by 251 academics and students, is sponsored by the Committee of Concerned Scientists — an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.

On July 14, 2011, we wrote an open letter to ask Your Eminence to correct a grave mistake made by the government officials in jailing Omid Kokabee, an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Texas – Austin. Mr. Kokabee was arrested at Tehran airport on a visit of his parents last winter. We were told that he was held at Evin prison and that he would soon stand trial on charges of “communicating with hostile government” and “illegitimate earnings”.

Our contacts with Omid Kokabee’s professors and fellow students at the University of Texas, as wellas at the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona, Spain, where Omid obtained his Masters Degree in optics before coming to Texas, all confirm that he was dedicated to his studies and refrained from engaging in politics. He was paid for his teaching assistantship with regular support package provided to all first-year U.S. and international doctoral students by the University of Texas and not by the United States Government or any of its agencies.

Some reports indicate that Mr. Kokabee might have been suspected in the exchange of information on nuclear technology. As scientists, we can assure you, that his research and studies had nothing to do with nuclear energy. His education and his Ph.D. project are in optics. He appears to be a talented young scientist whose studies have been interrupted for no good reason.

Imprisonment of Omid Kokabee and his upcoming trial have planted fear in the hearts of Iranian students that are currently studying abroad. Instead of bringing their skills and knowledge back to Iran, many of them are re-thinking their future in fear of reprisal on their return home. We trust that your wisdom will direct you to disperse this fear by promptly allowing Mr. Kokabee to return to his doctoral studies abroad and to travel freely to Iran, his native country.

251 Signatures: