Iranian Scholar Detained

Democracy Alert

[May 16, 2006]

Iranian Scholar Detained

Middle East & North Africa
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Dr. Ramin Jahanbegloo, an internationally known Iranian-Canadian intellectual and human rights advocate, was arrested on or around April 27 at the Tehran Airport on his way to attend a conference in Brussels. Dr. Jahanbegloo is reportedly being held in the notorious Evin prison, where many political prisoners have reported being tortured until they confessed to crimes. In 2003, another Canadian-Iranian national, Zahra Kazemi, died in custody in hospital as a result of torture after being detained in Evin Prison. Some of the recent reports indicate that that Dr. Jahanbegloo may be unharmed; however, his health condition remains a concern as he suffers from a diabetic condition and was hospitalized while in detention. Reasons for Ramin Jahanbegloo’s arrest are still unclear, although Fars news agency stated that, according to an anonymous source, he was arrested on security grounds and accused of espionage.

On May 5, 2006, Human Rights Watch issued a statement calling for an immediate release of the scholar and Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action Appeal. On May 11, 2006, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) issued a letter addressed to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that “the arrest of Professor Jahanbegloo offends international standards of academic freedom” and calling for his immediate release. Iran’s Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister, Mohammad Hoseyn Saffar-Harandi, said that he would try to win Ramin Jahanbegloo’s release if at all possible.
 
Dr. Jahanbegloo is the head of the Department of Contemporary Studies at the Cultural Research Bureau in Tehran. He is an author of over 20 books in Persian, English, and French on philosophy and current affairs in Iran. He is also a frequent contributor to international newspapers and journals, and has been critical of the Iranian government.
 
Dr. Jahanbegloo has been a visiting scholar both at Harvard and at the University of Toronto. In 2001-2002, he was a fellow at the International Forum for Democratic Studies, the research branch of the National Endowment for Democracy, Secretariat of the World Movement for Democracy. Fellows are selected for their distinguished careers and professional work through an open, annual competition, and pursue independent research, writing, and public speaking.
 
For information on the arrest of Ramin Jahanbegloo and updates on his current situation, go to:
 

To sign an international petition for Ramin Jahanbegloo’s release, go to:
www.petitiononline.com/RJahanaz/petition.html

Statement from Human Rights Watch -- http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/05/05/iran13312.htm

Amnesty International Urgent Action Appeal -- http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130482006?open&of=ENG-2MD

Other relevant sources: