Ahmadreza Djalali, a professor who was arrested for suspected espionage in Iran, has been sentenced to death, his wife, Vida Mehran-Nia, informed Radio Free Europe.
Djalali was arrested for “collaboration with hostile governments” and “acting against national security” while visiting Iran in April 2016 to participate in a series of workshops.
The 45-year-old professor taught at the European Master in Disaster Medicine (EMDM) in Italy—a joint Master's program by the Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Following his arrest, he spent more than seven months in solitary confinement without a proper trial or access to a lawyer. Djalali led a hunger strike in December 2016 to protest these conditions and seek justice despite suffering from kidney and heart pain.
According to the Belgium newspaper De Morgen, Djalali has been forced to sign a confession, for which he will receive the death penalty. The Iranian government is calling it a matter of national security.
We at Endangered Scholars Worldwide consider this arbitrary sentence a flagrant and unjust violation of the freedom, security, and safety of an academic who is clearly a victim of a political witch hunt—arrested without cause, held for months in solitary confinement without access to a lawyer, and subjected to physical mistreatment and psychological abuse.
Endangered Scholars Worldwide deplores this verdict and calls upon all international organizations, academic and professional associations, and other groups and individuals devoted to the promotion and defense of human rights to protest and condemn this arbitrary sentence; to call for Djalali’s immediate and unconditional release; and to urge the officials of the Iranian government to respect, guarantee, and implement the provisions and principles of human rights as specified in international conventions and treaties.
Endangered Scholars Worldwide urges you to sign the petition and appeal to Iranian Government.
Please send appeals to the following:
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei The Office of the Supreme Leader Jomhouri Street
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran Fax: +98 21 644 11 Website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.Khamenei.ir
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
President Hassan Rouhani The Office of the President Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection 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 Website: http://www.mfa.gov.ir Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jzarif
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
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