“Committee of Concerned Scientists” Expresses Concern Over the Situation of Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi, Imprisoned Talented Students

The “Committee of Concerned Scientists,” an independent body composed of scientists, physicists, engineers, and academics who are concerned about upholding human rights and freedom of knowledge for their colleagues worldwide, sent a letter to Ebrahim Raisi, the Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressing concern about the conditions of Ali Younesi, a 20-year-old Iranian student at Sharif University of Technology who is in the custody of Iranian authorities.

In the letter dated June 1, it states that protection of human rights of scientists and other academics, including students, is vital, and the “Committee of Concerned Scientists” seeks assurance that the human rights of Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi are being respected.

In its letter to the head of Iran’s judiciary, the committee called for clarification of the reasons for their detention and stated that it considers these young students as colleagues, and if there is no legitimate legal reason for their detention, then the Iranian government should immediately and unconditionally release them.

Plainclothes forces arrested Ali Younesi, a computer engineering student, and Amirhossein Moradi, a physics student, on Friday, April 12, without presenting a warrant and with physical violence at their residence, and transferred them to an unknown location.

Amnesty International also issued a statement on Tuesday, May 14, regarding the “arbitrary detention of Ali Younesi,” pointing out that he is in danger of “torture and other ill-treatment” in prison, and called for the release of this imprisoned student.

Mr. Younesi and Mr. Moradi are both among Iran’s most talented students and are holders of medals and top rankings in Iran’s and the world’s scientific olympiads.

Source: Voice of America