Since the presidency of Ahmadinejad, students and academics have been targeted for their political activism, engagement in peaceful protests or for exercising their right to freedom of expression. In the aftermath of the 2009 election, the authorities sought to tighten their grip over the universities even more. Professors have been fired or forcibly retired; many academics have been persecuted for attending conferences abroad, having connections to other academics in their field or being linked to reformist political groups.
Retired professor seen as enemy because of his party affiliation
The latter seems to be the trigger for the imprisonment of the retired chemistry professor, Mohammad Hossein Rafiee Fanood (Hossein Rafiee). He was arrested without a warrant by Ministry of Intelligence officials in mid-June and later transferred to the Evin Prison. So, why exactly is he serving a prison sentence for his peaceful political activism? Because of his “membership of an illegal group”: he was a member of the banned political party, Melli Mazhabi (National Religious Alliance).
Hossein Rafiee pursued a PhD in Physical Chemistry of Polymers of the Imperial College London and taught at the University of Tehran. Besides the banned political party, Melli Mazhabi, he is a member of the National Peace Council, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi.
It's risky to support the nuclear deal
Professor Rafiee is the author of several books and articles, among them, a comprehensive analysis of the nuclear situation titled “The Geneva agreement.” He sent it to Iranian authorities and published it on his website. A summary was also published in one of Iran’s independent journals. This analysis underpinned his support for President Rouhani’s diplomatic approach to resolving the
nuclear problem. But Rafiee’s writing wasn’t welcomed by the authorities, he soon faced pressure and constant threats to his person from the Intelligence Agency. In June 2014, he was arrested and accused of “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Despite being released on heavy bail and banned from leaving the country, his subsequent trial was held in secret and he was sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
His document on the nuclear deal not only contained assessment of the agreement, he also restated his position that a sustainable future for the country would only be achieved through the release of political prisoners, free and fair elections and an improvement of the human rights situation in Iran. This part might have contributed to his imprisonment, which, knowing the Iranian authorities, unfortunately doesn’t surprise us.
As Professor Rafiee formulated in his letter written to President Rouhani answering the President’s call for the support of academics for the deal and question “[..] why academics are silent and don’t step forward to publicly support the Geneva agreement,” he wrote on 1 July 2014.
>>TAKE ACTION! for the retired professor and former student of the Imperial College London by using the call for Urgent Action and the attached draft letter.
You can also read his daughter’s saddening full article in the Guardian here.
Retired professor seen as enemy because of his party affiliation
The latter seems to be the trigger for the imprisonment of the retired chemistry professor, Mohammad Hossein Rafiee Fanood (Hossein Rafiee). He was arrested without a warrant by Ministry of Intelligence officials in mid-June and later transferred to the Evin Prison. So, why exactly is he serving a prison sentence for his peaceful political activism? Because of his “membership of an illegal group”: he was a member of the banned political party, Melli Mazhabi (National Religious Alliance).
Hossein Rafiee pursued a PhD in Physical Chemistry of Polymers of the Imperial College London and taught at the University of Tehran. Besides the banned political party, Melli Mazhabi, he is a member of the National Peace Council, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi.
It's risky to support the nuclear deal
Professor Rafiee is the author of several books and articles, among them, a comprehensive analysis of the nuclear situation titled “The Geneva agreement.” He sent it to Iranian authorities and published it on his website. A summary was also published in one of Iran’s independent journals. This analysis underpinned his support for President Rouhani’s diplomatic approach to resolving the
nuclear problem. But Rafiee’s writing wasn’t welcomed by the authorities, he soon faced pressure and constant threats to his person from the Intelligence Agency. In June 2014, he was arrested and accused of “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Despite being released on heavy bail and banned from leaving the country, his subsequent trial was held in secret and he was sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
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(Source: www.guardian.co.uk)
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His document on the nuclear deal not only contained assessment of the agreement, he also restated his position that a sustainable future for the country would only be achieved through the release of political prisoners, free and fair elections and an improvement of the human rights situation in Iran. This part might have contributed to his imprisonment, which, knowing the Iranian authorities, unfortunately doesn’t surprise us.
As Professor Rafiee formulated in his letter written to President Rouhani answering the President’s call for the support of academics for the deal and question “[..] why academics are silent and don’t step forward to publicly support the Geneva agreement,” he wrote on 1 July 2014.
“Because a ministry under your management, the Intelligence Ministry, threatens and arrests your supporters.”
>>TAKE ACTION! for the retired professor and former student of the Imperial College London by using the call for Urgent Action and the attached draft letter.
You can also read his daughter’s saddening full article in the Guardian here.