Scientific Journal Nature: The Global Scientific Community Must Defend Iran’s Imprisoned Scientists

The scientific journal “Nature” in its recent editorial addressed the issue of Iranian and dual-national scientists and researchers imprisoned in Iran’s prisons and the necessity for the international scientific community to unite against the catastrophic conditions of these detainees in Iran and to publicize the situation of these prisoners.

The publication of this editorial in “Nature” as the most credible scientific journal in the world is of great significance because this journal is a constant reference source for many scientists around the world, and it will play an effective role in amplifying the voice of discrimination against imprisoned members of the scientific community in Iran to their colleagues worldwide. The present article is a translation of the editorial from the scientific journal “Nature” published on Wednesday, 24 Farvardin 1401 (April 13, 2020).

The Global Scientific Community Must Defend Iran’s Imprisoned Scientists

Iranian scientists and researchers are increasingly at risk. Governments seek the diplomacy of silence, but a new book shows why widespread public awareness about imprisoned scientists in Iran matters

Last month and during a certain period, the likelihood of Morad Tahbaz, one of the founders of the “Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation” in Tehran, being released after four years of imprisonment in Iran increased. The environmental organization that Morad Tahbaz co-founded had deployed cameras to monitor the critically endangered Asian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus). Iran’s judiciary determined this to be espionage and Morad Tahbaz along with seven of his colleagues are serving ten-year prison sentences. Kavous Seyed Emami, another founder of this environmental organization, university professor and sociologist, died in prison just weeks after his arrest.

Morad Tahbaz holds Iranian, British and American citizenship. He was initially released from prison as part of a prisoner exchange agreement involving dual-national citizens that included two other British-Iranian nationals, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and engineer Anousheh Ashouri. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anousheh Ashouri immediately boarded an airplane after their release and successfully left Iran for the United Kingdom, but Morad Tahbaz was returned to prison. An event that left the Tahbaz family in shock and disbelief.

Morad Tahbaz is one name on a long list of individuals convicted of espionage and imprisoned for scientific activities in Iran. The catastrophic situation of these individuals is extremely fragile and sensitive, as there is very little information about the charges against them or the horrific conditions in which they are held. Among those arrested are dual-national citizens such as Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian national who was researching “hospital disaster resilience” and now faces a death sentence. Fariba Adelkhah, a French-Iranian anthropologist working at Sciences Po Paris, was also arrested and imprisoned in 2019.

One reason dual-nationals are arrested in Iran is that the Islamic Republic of Iran uses them as hostages to gain concessions from Western governments. However, most imprisoned scientists in Iran are Iranian nationals and the details of their cases and their accounts are not widely known. Among them is Niloufar Bayani, an environmental advocate who previously worked with the United Nations. Other young people have also been detained, such as Ali Younesie, a brilliant student at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran and winner of medals in international olympiads.

Recently, a book titled “Sky Without Fences” written by Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian anthropologist, has been published that reveals the severe psychological and physical punishments that these detainees, particularly women, endure. Moore-Gilbert, who holds dual British and Australian citizenship, had unique experiences and data available for writing this book; she, who was previously at the University of Melbourne, traveled to Iran in 2018 to participate in a conference and was arrested at the airport while preparing to return to Australia. She was imprisoned for two years on espionage charges until last year when she was released as part of a prisoner exchange.

Moore-Gilbert spent time as a cellmate with Niloufar Bayani and Fariba Adelkhah in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. She describes clearly and precisely how women are interrogated and tortured, how they are sexually harassed and abused, forced to endure solitary confinement, and denied basic medical care. Actions aimed at breaking their spirit to force them into false confessions to things they did not do.

An important issue in this regard is attention to the significance of publicizing information about these prisoners. Government officials in Australia advised Moore-Gilbert’s family that her case should not be made public, as this could complicate negotiations for her release. However, those who avoid publicity are actually a lower priority for their own governments. In her book, Moore-Gilbert recalls a phone call with her father who said the government recommended keeping quiet, and she replied to her father: “Father, listen to me – I don’t have much time. I need to go to the media. Tell them what is happening to me. Tell them I have been arrested and kept in solitary confinement and denied contact with the embassy.”

If governments, instead of bilateral exchanges with Iran, unite and stand together, this hostage-taking can be countered. Continuous publicity is one of the best methods to exert pressure on all parties to take effective action.

The scientific community must make greater efforts to raise its voice in support of imprisoned scientists. International scientists must be the voice of their Iranian colleagues who are deprived of freedom of expression. Statements, letters – and even mentioning imprisoned researchers in Iran at conferences and events – are ways to tell Iranian scientists that the global scientific community stands with them. Knowledge and scientific production in Iran will not flourish as long as its scientists do not feel secure.

Source: Iran Human Rights Campaign