After a strong statement by Dr. Mohammad Javad Larijani, a highly placed Iranian official, on the importance of science to the Islamic Republic, CCS requests his assistance in obtaining a pardon for Omid Kokabee. As we had before, we emphasize Kokabee’s poor health in prison and the Iranian supreme court’s assertion of his innocence.
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Dr. Mohammad Javad Ardashir Larijani, larijani@ipm.ir
Secretary of the Human Rights Council of the Judiciary
Director of the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences
Niavaran Building, Bahonar Square
Tehran, P.O. Box 19395-5746
Islamic Republic of IranDear Dr. Larijani,
We have been greatly encouraged by your recent suggestion that Omid Kokabee can be pardoned and released from prison.
Investigations conducted by scientists, students, and reporters outside Iran have concluded that Kokabee has not been involved in any illegal activities attributed to him by the prosecutors, confirming a similar conclusion made by the Iran’s Supreme Court. Kokabee was always focused on science and stayed away from politics.
The worldwide campaign for his release has been unprecedented. Tens of thousands of people signed petitions on his behalf. Scientists, students, and human rights activists organized Kokabee events in various parts of the world. Thirty-three Nobel Prize laureates appealed to the Iran’s Supreme Leader. His case has been widely covered by the media, including numerous articles in popular science journals, such as Nature.
We believe that imprisoning one of Iran’s most talented innocent young scientists has been a great injustice to him and to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Four years in prison have taken a severe toll on Omid Kokabee’s health. Further imprisonment may have catastrophic consequences. We ask you to do everything in your power to achieve his release from prison.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander GreerCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists