Noted academic in the field of disaster preparedness, Ahmadreza Djalali was arrested by the Revolutionary Guard, and charged with “corruption on earth” without proper legal procedures. He has suffered in detainment and then prison since late 2016, and his execution is now reportedly set for May 21, 2022.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-61325387
May 8, 2022
Mr. Ebrahim Raisi, President
Islamic Republic of Iran
The Presidency
Pasteur Street, Pasteur Square
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: media@rouhani.ir
Dear President Raisi:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is 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.
We hope that this note finds you and your family in good health.
We are writing in regard to Ahmadreza Djalali, an emergency medicine doctor with an MD and a PhD. A specialist in disaster medicine, Dr. Djalali, has lectured and worked in Iran and a number of European countries. It was reported that he was approached by Iranian security agents requesting information on critical European infrastructure. He refused, which set a series of unjustified events into motion.
Dr. Djalali’s life and work were thrown into chaos, shortly after he was invited to visit two universities in Iran. The Ministry of Intelligence and Security arrested him and provided no warrant and no reason for doing so. Furthermore, his lawyer was blocked from providing any meaningful legal assistance. In late 2017, the Revolutionary Court charged Dr. Djalali with “corruption on earth”, and sentenced him to death. Iranian television broadcast Dr. Djalali saying words that could be construed as a confession of espionage, except in pleading for his life, he stated that he was forced to read these words under the threat of his children and wife being harmed.
Ahmadreza Djalali is reported to be in a state of deteriorating health, due to extremely poor prison conditions, including long durations of starving in solitary confinement. More recent reports say that he is scheduled to be executed on May 21, 2022. The Committee of Concerned Scientists is gravely concerned that this may actually happen. We urge you to reconsider the execution of a man who was sentenced to death without true legal representation. Instead,
consider the greater good, which is exactly what Dr. Djalali has worked for his entire life. It can be said without exaggeration that Dr. Djalali has been an important contributor to the wellbeing of people on earth, and not at all a contributor to “corruption on earth.”
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
cc:
Majid Takht Ravanchi
Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran
to the United Nations
622 Third Avenue, 34th floor
New York, New York 10017
Phone: (212) 687-2020
Fax: (212) 867-7086
Email: iran@un.int
Twitter: @TakhtRavanchi
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, North West
Washington, District of Columbia 20520
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @ABlinken
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Imam Khomeini Street, Imam Khomeini Square
Tehran, Iran
Email: info@mfa.gov.ir