The Committee of Concerned Scientists endorses a new appeal on behalf of Texas University physics student Omid Kokabee, who is imprisoned in Teheran. CCS and many other human rights organizations have been advocating for his release since his arrest in 2011.
The letters to Iranian and international officials (see below) were drafted by Ellen Hutchison, a student at Texas University/Austin, with the assistance of Kokabee’s attorney and other human rights experts. They conclude from a careful study of international treaties and conventions that are applicable to this case (see Addendum of applicable provisions of international treaties and conventions that Iran has signed) that Kokabee’s case involves serious violations of due process.
Additional Information
The author and CCS urge Iranian authorities to release Omid Kokabee immediately. We encourage other science and human rights organizations to endorse this letter or to send their own version to the addressees below.
Letter to Iranian Officials
Mr. Hassan Rouhani, President
Islamic Republic of Iran
Sa’dabad Palace
Tehran
Islamic Republic of IranAugust 23, 2013
Excellency:
The organization and individuals signatory to this letter wish to express concern over the treatment of Omid Kokabee, a young scientist who has been detained in Evin Prison since January of 2011. He was a PhD student in Physics at the University of Texas at Austin who was arrested without warning while visiting his family in Iran.
According to his lawyer Saeed Khalili, several arrest and trial irregularities with details given below violate international standards set by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Human Rights Declaration; the Islamic Republic of Iran is signatory to both.
Many scientific and academic organizations have protested his imprisonment in open letters and Declarations. These organizations represent scientists from across the globe and include the International Society for Optics and Photonics, American Physical Society, Middle Eastern Studies Association, University of Oslo, European Optical Society, International Commission for Optics, Committee of Concerned Scientists, and several more. Support for Mr. Kokabee grows continuously.
Mr. Kokabee has alleged in letters from prison that he was arrested due to his refusal to cooperate in state-sponsored scientific projects.
The following case information was provided to us by the attorney of Mr. Kokabee, Saeed Khalili:
- Mr. Kokabee was held in detention for 15 months before receiving a verdict. His first appearance in court was September of 2011, 8 months after his arrest. The second appearance in court was February 2012, 13 months after detention. The final verdict was given in an appeal trial August 2012, 18 months after his arrest.
- He was eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison for various national security offenses in a rushed trial with over a dozen other defendants. There was no evidence presented to validate Mr. Kokabee’s charges.
- His trial was broadcast on television with others convicted of espionage for Mossad, which carried the burden of the implication that he was connected similarly.
- He was deprived access to his lawyer’s service during the legal proceedings.
- Mr. Kokabee’s family was also pressured to convince Mr. Kokabee to cooperate with the Iranian Authorities’ research projects. Mr. Kokabee claims that this research lies in military nuclear applications of his expertise, tunable lasers.
- Furthermore, authorities prevented recommended medical treatment for kidney stones of Kokabee while in prison.
His prolonged detention without trial, followed by proceedings that failed to adhere to international trial standards suggest his detention is arbitrary under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory to both.
In view of these numerous violations of international standards and the lack of clear evidence of any wrongdoing by Omid Kokabee, the undersigned urge the immediate release of Mr. Kokabee
Thank you for your attention to our concern.
Sincerely,
Eugene Chudnovsky
Alexander Greer
Joel Lebowitz
Walter Reich
Paul PlotzCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Copies to:
President Hassan Rouhani,
c/o H.E. Mohammad Khazaee
Ambassador of Iran to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10017, USA
email: iran@un.intAyatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email:info_leader@leader.irMr. Mohammad Javad Larijani
Head of the High Council for Human Rights, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@humanrights-iran.irAyatollah Sadegh Larijani
Head of the Judiciary, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: bia.judi@yahoo.comMr. Ali Akbar Salehi
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: matbuat@mfa.gov.ir
Letter to International Officials
The Hon. Catherine Ashton
High Representative, European Union
Email: catherine.ashton@ec.europa.euAugust 23, 2013
Your Excellency:
The organization and individuals signatory to this letter wish to express concern over the treatment of Omid Kokabee, a young scientist who has been detained in Evin Prison since January of 2011. He was a PhD student in Physics at the University of Texas at Austin who was arrested without warning while visiting his family in Iran.
According to his lawyer Saeed Khalili, several arrest and trial irregularities with details given below violate international standards set by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Human Rights Declaration; the Islamic Republic of Iran is signatory to both. We believe that your government can help encourage the Iranian government to review Mr. Kokabee’s case and ensure compliance with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s international human rights treaty obligations.
Many scientific and academic organizations have protested his imprisonment in open letters and Declarations. These organizations represent scientists from across the globe and include the International Society for Optics and Photonics, American Physical Society, Middle Eastern Studies Association, University of Oslo, European Optical Society, International Commission for Optics, Committee of Concerned Scientists, and several more. Support for Mr. Kokabee grows continuously.
Mr. Kokabee has alleged in letters from prison that he was arrested due to his refusal to cooperate in state-sponsored scientific projects.
The following case information was provided to us by the attorney of Mr. Kokabee, Saeed Khalili:
- Mr. Kokabee was held in detention for 15 months before receiving a verdict. His first appearance in court was September of 2011, 8 months after his arrest. The second appearance in court was February 2012, 13 months after detention. The final verdict was given in an appeal trial August 2012, 18 months after his arrest.
- He was eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison for various national security offenses
in a rushed trial with over a dozen other defendants. There was no evidence presented to validate Mr. Kokabee’s charges.- His trial was broadcast on television with others convicted of espionage for Mossad, which carried the burden of the implication that he was connected similarly.
- He was deprived access to his lawyer’s service during the legal proceedings.
- Mr. Kokabee’s family was also pressured to convince Mr. Kokabee to cooperate with the
Iranian Authorities’ research projects. Mr. Kokabee claims that this research lies in military nuclear applications of his expertise, tunable lasers.- Futhermore, authorities prevented recommended medical treatment for kidney stones of Kokabee while in prison.
His prolonged detention without trial, followed by proceedings that failed to adhere to international trial standards suggest his detention is arbitrary under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory to both.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rigts in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, referenced Mr. Kokabee’s detention as cause for concern in his March 2012 report to the Human Rights Council. The Special Rapporteur also noted that within Iran “violations of due process rights are chronic” and defendants are often “subjected to coercive treatment that is tantamount to torture.”The undersigned wish to respectfully request that your government bring up the case of Omid Kokabee to Iranian officials in order to secure his fair treatment and to promote the human rights of scientists globally.
Thank you for your attention to our concern.
Sincerely,
Eugene Chudnovsky
Alexander Greer
Joel Lebowitz
Walter Reich
Paul PlotzCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Copies to:
Salman Khurshid
External Affairs Minister of India
Email: eam@mea.gov.iAhmet Davutoğlu
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
Email: info@mfa.gov.trKim Sung-hwan
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for South Korea
Email: web@mofat.go.krOthman Jerandi
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia
Email: mae@diplomatie.gov.tnMarty Natalegawa
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia
Email: pengaduan.itjen@kemlu.go.idZlatko Lagumdžija
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Email: info_mvpbih@mvp.gov.baMankeur Ndiaye
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal
Email: contact@diplomatie.gouv.snDimitris Avramopoulos
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece
Email: avramopoulos@otenet.grFumio Kishida
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Email: webmaster@mofa.go.jpAnifah Aman
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia
Email: anifah@kln.gov.myAntonio Patriota
Minister of External Relations of Brazil
Email: ministro.estado@itamaraty.gov.brHéctor Timerman
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Argentina
Email: dipre@cancilleria.gob.arLeonid Kozhara
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Email: zsmfa@mfa.gov.uaWang Yi
Minister of Foreign Affairs of China
Email: webmaster@mfa.gov.cnMaite Nkoana-Mashabane
Minister of International Relations of South Africa
Email: minister@dirco.gov.zaMaría Ángela Holguín Cuéllar
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia
Email: colombia@colombiaun.orgHoshyar Zebari
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq
Email: iraqmission@live.comJosé García-Margallo y Marfil
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain
Email: ministro@maec.esSergey Lavrov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Email: ministry@mid.ruGuido Westerwelle
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany
Email: buergerservice@diplo.deGiulio Terzi di Sant’Agata
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy
Email: ministero.affariesteri@cert.esteri.itAshour Bin Khayal
Ambassador to the United Nations for Libya
Email: libyanmis2011@yahoo.comMohamed Kamel Amr
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt
Email: foreign.legalization@mfa.gov.eg, Contact.Us@mfa.gov.egElías Jaua Milano
Minister of Foreign Relations of Venezuela
Email: misionvene@venezuelaonu.gob.veThe Hon. Samantha Power
US Ambassador to the United Nations
United States Mission to the United Nations
799 United Nations Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10017