WASHINGTON, July 23, 2008 (AFP) - The US-based Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) expressed concern Wednesday over the reported detention by the Iranian government of two Iranian doctors known for their pioneering work on HIV/AIDS.
It has written to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, asking that Tehran either charge the brothers Arash Alaei and Kamiar Alaei or release them.
They were apparently arrested at the end of June.
"We appeal to your government to disclose their whereabouts, to provide them access to lawyers and to their family, and either to charge them with an internationally recognized crime or release them immediately," PHR chief executive Frank Donaghue said in the letter to the Iranian leader.
"We sincerely hope that their disappearance has been a mistake and that they will soon return to their loved ones and to their important work," Donaghue said, according to a copy of the letter made available to AFP.
The current whereabouts of the doctors, who have worked for many years on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities in Iran and internationally, are unknown.
"They are not known for any political activity, they are known as prominent international recognized AIDS physicians who have worked on humanitarian and health grounds," PHR deputy director, Susannah Sirkin, told AFP.
Physicians for Human Rights shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for its campaign to ban landmines.
080723
AF080760
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.