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

CHRI — 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.

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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