BRUSSELS, Aug 6, 2008 (AFP) - The French EU presidency on Wednesday called on Iran to release two doctors, known for their pioneering work on HIV/AIDS, who were "arbitrarily arrested" in June.
"The presidency of the European Union Council calls on the Iranian authorities to free (brothers) Arash and Kamiar Alaei and to drop all charges against them," the presidency said in a statement.
An Iranian newspaper reported Sunday that the authorities had launched an inquiry into the actions of the detained pair over claims they were plotting a "velvet revolution".
"A case has been filed whose defendants are two brothers. They held conferences on such topics as AIDS, which drew the attention of domestic and foreign organisations and NGOs," Tehran's deputy prosecutor Hassan Haddad was quoted as saying by the reformist Etemad newspaper.
"The Iranian authorities accused the Alaei brothers in a serious manner of activities to destabilise the Islamic Republic," the EU's presidency, held by France until the end of the year, said in a statement.
"They are internationally known for their work in the prevention and the treatment of AIDS in Iran," it added.
080806
AF080830
Copyright ©AFP 2008. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics. http://www.afp.com/
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. This article first appeared in 2008. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2008. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.