Swedish Scientist Threatened with Death Sentence in Iran

University of Tehran. Photo: Blondinrikard Fröberg

Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali has been threatened with the death penalty in Iran for ”collaborating with enemy states.” CCS has written to the Iranian government requesting that they review this case, and provide Djalali with a proper trial and an attorney of his choosing.

February 8, 2017

President Hassan Rouhani
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran

Dear President Rouhani:

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 write today to express our grave concern for Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-born resident of Sweden, who is a scientist teaching Emergency and Disaster Medicine.

Dr. Djalali was invited to speak at Tehran University when he was arrested by agents of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence on April 24, 2016. He was taken to Evin Prison where he was held in solitary confinement for 7 months, uncharged, without an attorney, continually interrogated and unable to see his family. After that time, he was transferred to a public ward and was permitted legal counsel. Djalali had been to Tehran numerous times in the past to work with state organizations such as the Red Crescent and never experienced any problems.

On December 25th, he was informed that he was going to receive the maximum sentence, which was the death penalty for “collaborating with enemy states.” Previously, however, they informed him that his case had been reviewed and his trial would begin shortly. Djalali informed his family that he was forced to sign a confession, but its contents are unknown to him.

We have found out from recent communications that Dr. Djalali’s case is to be reviewed shortly. We beg you to please to look into this matter, assure he receive due process and an attorney of his choosing, and hopefully the release of this scientist. It is unconscionable to threaten a man with the death penalty prior to having a trial, without an attorney of his choosing and without any understanding of what he is accused of. These actions constitute a serious disregard of international standards of due process, fair trial and detention as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory. Such disregard of due process which could result in a death sentence for this scientist is particularly distressing, given Iran’s rich intellectual history and traditional support for the values of scholarship, the sciences and humanitarian work.

We join other international academic and human rights organizations in urging you to intervene and to ensure the appropriate and fair treatment of Dr. Djalali. We also urge you to ensure his well-being, access to family, medical treatment and counsel of his choosing, pending his earliest release.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer

Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

Copies to:

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Jomhouri Street
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 644 11

Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran

Javad Zarif,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Minister’s Office
Imam Khomeini Square
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 66743149

Mariano Rajoy Brey
Prime Minister
Moncloa Palace
Avenida Puerta de Hierro, s/n
28071 Madrid Spain

Angela Merkel
Chancellor of Germany
CDU-Bundesgeschaftsstelle
Konrad-Adenauer-Hau
Klingelhoferstrabe 8
Berlin 10785 Germany
Fax: +49 (0)30-220-70-111

Francois Hollande
President
55 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore
75008 Paris France

Sergio Mattarella
President
Palazzo del Quirinale
Plazza del Quirinale
00187 Roma Italy

Theresa May
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A2AA England

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Email: InfoDesk@ohchr.org

Kishore Singh
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Email: sreducation@ohchr.org

David Kaye
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Email: freedex@ohchr.org

Federica Mogherini
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
Belgium

Thorbjørn Jagland
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Council of Europe
Avenue de l’Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
France
Fax: + 33 3 88 41 27 99

Philippe Boillat
Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law Council of Europe
Avenue de l’Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
France
Fax: + 33 3 88 41 27 99

Rex Tillerson
Secretary
United States Department of State
Harry S. Truman Building
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520