Physicians for Human Rights and 20 Countries Demand Iran Release AID...( A Nobel Peac...),Health

A Nobel Peace Prize laureate organization and a coalition of health and human rights activists held simultaneous events in New York, Washington, DC, and 20 countries on Tuesday to call for the release of two Iranian physicians imprisoned since June.

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 12, 2009 -- A Nobel Peace Prize laureate organization and a coalition of health and human rights activists held simultaneous events in New York, Washington, DC, and 20 countries on Tuesday to call for the release of two Iranian physicians imprisoned since June.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) organized the "Global Day of Action for the Alaeis" to demand the release of Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei, world-renowned HIV/AIDS specialists who were indicted in December by the Iranian government on charges of communicating with an "enemy government." The rallies and PHR's campaign work on behalf of the Alaei brothers were noted in editorials in Tuesday's New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Boston Globe.

The brothers traveled across the US and the world to share Iran's model of HIV prevention and treatment. The Iranian government alleges they were working to recruit people to foment a "velvet revolution."

"Such allegations hurt the future of public health and indicate a dangerous trend toward punishing health professionals for working in the US or having US citizenship," said Sarah Kalloch, PHR's Director of Outreach. "Physicians for Human Rights believes that treating AIDS is not a crime--it's good medicine."

In January, Kamiar and Arash Alaei were sentenced to prison terms of three and six years respectively in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. According to sources close to the brothers' case, the appellate court received their appeals on March 17 and the following day--without a hearing--rejected their appeals and upheld their sentences.
'/>"/>