October 9, 2023

Joint Letter: 120 Iranian Doctors, Lawyers, and Activists Call for Release of Doctor Jailed for Treating Protesters

Signatories, Including Wounded Protesters, Urge Investigation by UN’s Fact-Finding Mission and Support by International Medical Organizations

October 9, 2023 — A group of more than 120 Iranians, including medical professionals, lawyers, activists, and individuals who sustained injuries during the Iranian government’s violent suppression of street protests, have jointly penned a letter demanding the immediate release of Dr. Yaser Rahmanirad, who has been in detention in Iran since September 21, 2023, solely for providing medical care to injured protesters.

The letter, which has also been signed by Center for Human Rights in Iran Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi, emphasizes Dr. Rahmanirad’s unwavering dedication to providing aid to injured protesters, as he is professionally obligated to do, with a special focus on those left visually impaired by gunshot wounds.

During the period spanning September 2022 to January 2023, thousands of protesters were injured, and hundreds lost their lives as state security forces in Iran employed lethal measures to suppress street protests. These protests were initially sparked by the killing in state custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini, who died shortly after she was arrested by the morality police for her alleged inappropriate hijab.

Additional medical professionals and students who attempted to offer assistance to injured protesters faced threats, detention, and legal action. They include Hamid Ghareh Hasanlou, a radiologist, and his wife Farzaneh, a lab technician, who were both handed lengthy prison sentences of 15 and 5 years, respectively. Some medical personnel were even subjected to gunfire while attempting to deliver critical care to wounded protesters.

In addition to urging the Iranian government to halt its unlawful judicial proceedings against the physician, the signatories call upon the United Nations’ independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran to investigate his case. Furthermore, they implore international medical aid organizations to unite in a public call for the immediate release of Dr. Rahmanirad.

Below, you will find both the English and Persian versions of this letter, with the English translation of the original Persian text provided by CHRI.

Letter by 120 Doctors, Activists Demanding Release of Dr. Yaser Rahmanirad

In light of the following facts:

  1. Dr. Rahmanirad is among the medical professionals who tirelessly assisted injured protesters in Iran, actively working to reduce violence during and after demonstrations.
  2. He dedicated a significant amount of his time to treating the wounded without seeking personal gain, using his expertise and knowledge to heal and care for those affected by the movement.
  3. Dr. Rahmanirad voiced objections to any security threats against the injured, utilizing his exceptional skills and experience to deliver exceptional medical care while working with expert colleagues.
  4. He provided medical services to injured protesters without discrimination, prioritizing their human rights. His compassionate solidarity and support instilled hope and confidence in those wounded, especially those who had been blinded as a result of gunshot injuries, fostering the belief in the possibility of a brighter future.
  5. Dr. Rahmanirad continued to assist individuals suffering from severe and ongoing pain due to the presence of numerous toxic lead bullets in various parts of their bodies, the nervous system, and among their bones. Many of them refrained from seeking medical care at traditional facilities due to security concerns and the fear of arrests, compounded by economic hardships.

Given the continuation of this illegal and inhumane detention, which not only oppresses independent and compassionate physicians but also deprives injured Iranian citizens and protesters of essential professional services, we urge the following actions:

  1. We call upon the government of the Islamic Republic to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Yaser Rahmanirad and put an end to the unlawful and inhumane judicial proceedings against him.
  2. We implore the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran to acknowledge the direct link between Dr. Yaser Rahmanirad’s arrest and his invaluable medical and humanitarian support for injured protesters during the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement in Iran. We request an independent investigation into this case and its comprehensive documentation.
  3. We beseech international organizations and civil institutions, including Doctors Without Borders, as well as all medical associations in democratic and developed nations that champion human rights, not to remain silent regarding these illegal and inhumane actions. We urge them to demand immediate accountability from the authorities of the Islamic Republic.

Signatories: Individuals Injured by State Security Agencies  

  1. Amir Jahanbakhsh – Physically injured
  2. Behzad Hamrahi – Damaged eye
  3. Pouria Alipour – Physically injured
  4. Javad Pahlevani Nia – Damaged eye
  5. Housein Ashtari – Damaged eye
  6. Housein Noori – Damaged eye
  7. Dr. Majid Khademi – Damaged eye
  8. Reza Ezati – Damaged eye
  9. Rozbeh Roznavard – Damaged eye
  10. Kosar Eftekhari – Damaged eye
  11. Kian Derakhshan – Damaged eye and physical
  12. Maysam Dehghani – Damaged eye
  13. Mir Hessamuddin Maleki – Physically injured
  14. Milad Safari – Physically Injured
  15. Yasser Alvandian – Damaged Eye

Signatories: Doctors, Lawyers, and Activists

  1. Fadime Tuncer – Political sponsor, representative in the German parliament
  2. Ebrahim Allah Bakhshi – Human rights activist
  3. Ahad Salehi – Physician
  4. Ehsan Abri – Human rights activist
  5. Ehsan Solhjo – Physician
  6. Arash Azarakhsh – Political activist
  7. Afsaneh Modaber – Psychologist
  8. Afsun Najafi – Judiciary {Sister of Javid Najafi}
  9. Afshin Abdulahi – Director of the Lion and Sun Society
  10. Allahyar Kangarloo – Political physicist
  11. Amir Lahiji – TV presenter for Bahar TV
  12. Iranian Women’s Association Melbourne
  13. Azadeh Afsahi – Psychologist
  14. Ehsan Karamouz – Human rights activist
  15. For Freedom Foundation
  16. Babak Eslami Farsani – Lawyer
  17. Bardia Mousavi – Human rights activist
  18. Behrouz Javid – Human rights activist
  19. Behrouz Ghorbani – Human rights activist (Christian)
  20. Behnam Chegini – Civil activist
  21. Pouran Nazemi – 14 Declaration and political activist
  22. Parvin Shayan – Human rights activist
  23. Pari Sabahat – Political activist
  24. Parisa Pouyande – Political activist
  25. Payam Derafshan – Lawyer
  26. Jahangir Leghaei – Economist
  27. Hasan Etemadi – Political activist
  28. Hasan Shariatmadari – Political activist
  29. Husein Rezaei – Lawyer
  30. Hamid Mirzaei – Physician
  31. Hamid Reza Najafi – Human rights activist Arak
  32. Housein Raeisi – Lawyer
  33. Hosein Ahmadi Niyaz – Lawyer
  34. Khosrow Alikordi – Lawyer
  35. Javad Lalmohamadi – 14 Statement and political activist (Former political prisoner)
  36. Daye Sharife – Judiciary (Mother of Javid Nam Ramin Hossein Panahi)
  37. Hassan Naeb Hashem – Physician and human rights activist
  38. Seyf Ehdaei – University professor and political activist
  39. Kamran Parsa – Physician
  40. Montreh Tavakoli – Physician and human rights activist
  41. Masoud Noghrekar – Physician and writer
  42. Nahid Hosseini – Women’s rights activist
  43. Parham Roshan Zamir – Physician
  44. Iman Navabi – Physician
  45. Abdullah Zadi – Physician
  46. Homa Fathi – Physician
  47. Ebrahim Karimi – Physician
  48. Robabeh Mohammadi – Lawyer
  49. Rozita Manteghi – Civil activist
  50. Reza Azmoudeh – Political activist
  51. Reza Borumand – Human rights activist
  52. Reza Gharleghi – Lawyer
  53. Zahra Kazemi – Lawyer
  54. Saeid Dehghan – Lawyer
  55. Somaye Ramvaz – Human rights activist
  56. Sara Eshaghi – Human rights activist
  57. Soheila Dalvand – Civil activist
  58. Sirvan Mansouri – Journalist
  59. Saeed Ghorbani – Human rights activist
  60. Shole Pakravan – Human rights activist
  61. Shole Zamini – Human rights activist
  62. Shemila Nejad Hashemi – Civil activist and women’s rights activist
  63. Behrouz Kananiyan – Human rights activist
  64. Shahla Entesari – 14 Statement
  65. Shahla Entesari – 14 Declaration
  66. Shilan Mirzaee – Human rights and political activist
  67. Saba Alaleh – Psychologist
  68. Sadra Abdulahi – Civil activist
  69. Sanam Sabaghi – Lawyer
  70. Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi – 14 Statement and political activist (Former political prisoner)
  71. Abdullah Zandi – Physician
  72. Ghazal Lorestani – Lawyer
  73. Fahim Moeini – Human rights organization Nikoo
  74. Giti Pourfazel – Lawyer
  75. Leila Khosravi – Lawyer
  76. Leyli Khameneh – Human rights activist
  77. Mohammad Mahdavifar – 14 Declaration
  78. Mohammad Reza Kargar – Lawyer
  79. Morad Moalem – Spokesman for the National Front of Iran abroad
  80. Mohammad Housein Sepehri – 14 Declaration and political activist (Former political prisoner)
  81. Manuchehr Mohammadi – Political activist
  82. Mehdi Shahbazi – Judiciary (Brother of Javid Nam Ameneh Shahbazi)
  83. Mehrnaz Saghdoush Pey – Human rights activist
  84. Mahshid Nazemi – Human rights activist
  85. Mehrangiz Kaar – Lawyer
  86. Mahnaz Ghezzelou – Women’s rights activist
  87. Mohim Sarkhosh – Spokesman for the Balochistan Party foreign relations
  88. Nasibe Shamsaei – Women’s rights activist
  89. Nayereh Ansari – Jurist
  90. Neda Mirzaloo – Civil activist
  91. Nasrin Namdarpour – Human rights activist
  92. Nima Kakavand – Lawyer
  93. Hadi Ghaemi – Director of the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
  94. Hoda Khorami – Nurse
  95. Hana Taran – Human rights activist
  96. Hashem Khastar – 14 Declaration and political activist (Former political prisoner)
  97. Medical Alliance for Health Services Abroad (MAHSA) united nation
  98. Kian Foundation Canada
  99. Iranian Canadian Health Care Professionals
  100. Woman-Life-Freedom USCF united nation
  101. Canadian Iranian Doctors for Human Rights (CIDHR)
  102. Woman Life Freedom Melbourne
  103. Int’l Iranian Physicians and Healthcare Providers Association
  104. United Health Professionals for Iran (UHP for Iran) – “اتحاد کادر سلامت برای ایران”
  105. ParsiMed Germany

Persian Text of Letter          

دکتر یاسر رحمانی‌راد، پزشک دلسوزی که در ایران به هموطنان  آسیب‌دیده خدمت می‌کرد، صرفا به علت وفاداری به سوگند پزشکی‌اش و اقدامات انسانی‌اش، همچنان در بازداشت اطلاعات سپاه لرستان است.

با توجه به اینکه:

۱- وی یکی از پزشکانی است که به طور ویژه در کاهش خشونت‌های زمان اعتراضات و پس از آن، به مجروحین و آسیب‌دیدگان در ایران کمک می‌کرده است؛

۲- او مدت زمان طولانی در تمام این ایام را وقف خدمت به آسیب‌دیدگان کرده بود و بجای بهره بردن اقتصادی از تخصص خود، از مهارت‌ها و دانش خود برای بهبود و درمان مجروحان استفاده می‌کرد و به جان و سلامت آنان اهمیت می‌داد؛

۳- او به هرگونه تهدید علیه انسان‌های مجروح اعتراض داشت و با تخصص و تجربه خود، قادر بود به صورت فوق‌العاده در این زمینه فعالیت کند و نیازهای پزشکی این افراد را با همراه کردن همکاران متخصص برآورده کند.

۴- او با ارائه‌ی بدون تبعیضِ خدمات پزشکی به انسان های آسیب‌دیده، به حفظ حقوق انسانی آنها اهمیت می‌داد و ضمن همدردی و همبستگی با افراد آسیب‌دیده، به آنها امید و اعتماد به نفس داده و مخصوصا اشخاص نابینا شده در نتیجه شلیک اسلحه را با مِهر به ادامه زندگی امیدوار می‌کرد.

۵- کمک‌های مستمر او به افراد آسیب‌دیده‌ای بود که بسیاری از آنها متاسفانه به دلیل قرار گرفتن تعداد زیادی از گلوله‌های ساچمه سمی سرب در نقاط مختلف بدن و سیستم عصبی و بین استخوان‌ها دچار درد فراوان و مستمر بوده و به دلایل مختلف و و یا مشکلات اقتصادی، از درمان محروم مانده بودند.

بنابراین، با توجه به اینکه ادامه این روند غیرقانونی و غیرانسانی، موجب می‌شود علاوه بر ظلم به پزشکان مستقل و دلسوز، شهروندان و معترضان آسیب‌دیده‌ی ایرانی هم از خدمات حرفه‌ای ایشان محروم شوند؛

۱- از حکومت جمهوری اسلامی می‌خواهیم که با آزادی فوری و بی‌قید و شرط دکتر یاسر رحمانی‌راد، فورا به پرونده‌سازی غیرقانونی و غیرانسانی علیه او پایان دهند.

۲- از سازمان‌‌ها و نهادهای مدنی بین‌المللی از جمله سازمان پزشکان بدون مرز و صلیب سرخ و ارکان مسئول سازمان ملل متحد و همچنین تمام سازمان‌های پزشکی کشورهای دموکراتیک و توسعه‌یافته که دغدغه حقوق بشر دارند می‌خواهیم که در مورد چنین اقدامات غیرقانونی و غیرانسانی، سکوت نکنند و خواهان پاسخگویی فوری مقامات جمهوری اسلامی شوند.

Read this article in Persian

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