Iranian-American scholar Kian Tajbakshs, a sociologist and urban planner with a doctorate from Columbia University, was arrested in July, 2009. An Iranian Revolutionary court convicted him on October 20 of fomenting unrest against the government and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. He was prosecuted with more than 100 other defendants in show trials after the election sparked protests. He has denied any participation in the election or in the protests.
Tajbakshs had served four months in prison in 2007 and was released without charges. The Iranian Government approved his work with the Open Society Institute, which was one of the bases for the recent indictment, according to colleagues. An American citizen, Tajbakhsh had been invited to lecture at Columbia University this semester. His arrest and conviction have evoked protests from the United States State Department and from academic institutions throughout the world.
We asked that the Iranian authorities ensure that the baseless charges be dismissed and that the unjustified sentence be reversed, so that Tajbakhsh may take up his duties at Columbia University.