Human Rights in Iran: Dr. Kamiar and Dr. Arash Alaei speak about their persecution and perseverance

Amnesty International group 50 and the Chicago-area Baha'i Spiritual 
Assemblies are hosting an event highlighting the dire human rights 
situation in Iran on Sunday November 11 at 1 pm. We are honored to host 
Dr. Kamiar Alaei and Dr. Arash Alaei, former prisoners of conscience in 
Iran. The Alaei brothers are compassionate physicians and are 
internationally renowned experts in the prevention and treatment of 
HIV/AIDS. They were instrumental in establishing innovative and humane 
public health programs in Iran. The brothers have dedicated their lives 
to helping some of the most marginalized and stigmatized groups in 
Iranian society—HIV-infected drug users, sex workers, LGBT individuals 
and prison inmates. The World Health Organization considered their 
programs as models for the entire Middle East and North Africa. Their 
hard work brought rare favorable world attention to the Islamic Republic 
of Iran. Because their professional work involved collaboration with 
American colleagues and participation in international scientific and 
medical conferences held in the United States, the brothers were 
persecuted by the Iranian government who accused them of involvement in 
an American plot to undermine the Iranian government; they were 
arrested, tortured, convicted for “cooperating with an enemy government” 
after an unfair trial in a Revolutionary Court, and served several years 
in prison. After a sustained campaign on their behalf led by Physicians 
for Human Rights, Amnesty International, and other partners, the 
brothers were released from prison. They are currently unable to carry 
out their important work in their native country. Undeterred, they 
continue to work on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS among 
marginalized and persecuted populations around the world.

Also speaking will be Bani Dugal,Principal Representative of the Bahá'í 
International Community to the United Nations. The Baha'i community 
faces systemic persecution by the Iranian authorities.

Sunday, November 11, 2012, 1:00 PM
The Baha’i House of Worship, Foundation Hall
100 Linden Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091
The venue is easily accessible by taking the Purple Line train to the 
last stop at LInden
For more information, please call Wayne Heimbach 847-414-5160.
Web site: 
http://www.amnestyusa.org/events/human-rights-in-iran-dr-kamiar-and-dr-arash-alaei-speak-about-their-persecution-and-perseverance