IRAN IVLP ALUMNUS JAILED

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000042

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/16/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI SCUL IR
SUBJECT: IRAN IVLP ALUMNUS JAILED

REF: RPO DUBAI 0038

DUBAI 00000042 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Ramin Asgard, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



1.(S//NF) SUMMARY: Prominent Iranian HIV/AIDS physicians Drs.
Kamiar and Arash Alaei were detained by Iranian authorities
sometime in late June and are being held at an undisclosed
location, per an email that was forwarded to IRPoffs July 15.
Arash was a participant in the first IRPO IVLP program in
November 2006 and since attended meetings in Dubai during the
visit of ECA Assistant Secretary Goli Ameri May 4. Both Kamiar
and Arash have traveled repeatedly to the US since 2003. An
Iranian American resident in Dubai, who was questioned
repeatedly by Iranian authorities in early 2007, indicated that
Arash was also interviewed extensively by the Iranian government
last year. The Alaei family has not contacted IRPO and has not
asked the USG to make a statement at this time. End Summary.

Forwarded email

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2.(S//NF) IRPO was forwarded an email from a regular Dubai-based
Iranian American contact detailing the arrests of brothers, and
physicians in the field of HIV/AIDS, Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei
July 15. The email originated from the Associate Director of
the Open Society Institute in New York. The text of the email
is as follows:

"Two physician brothers, who have been recognized
internationally for their work in the development of HIV/AIDS
programs and services in Iran, are being held in prison by the
Iranian government. According to reports received from Tehran,
Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei were taken to an undisclosed
location sometime in late June. The reason for their detention
is unknown.

Ladan Alomar, Executive Director of the Centro Civico of
Amsterdam, NY, a community based organization that provides
HIV/AIDS services to the Latino community, received a phone call
from a person close to the Alaei brothers and was informed of
the situation. The family and friends of Kamiar and Arash in
Iran do not know where and under what charges the brothers are
being held. The authorities in Tehran have provided no
information about their whereabouts.

Kamiar and Arash Alaei have visited the United States on several
occasions to participate in professional activities and have
spoken to various audiences about the situation of HIV/AIDS in
Iran. Kamiar is a doctoral candidate at the SUNY Albany School
of Public Health and had returned to his country in early June
to spend his summer vacation working there. He is expected back
in Albany in September to start the fall semester, Early this
year, the Asia Society recognized him as a 2008 Asia Fellow,
'one of 23 new fellows identified as being among the most
promising trendsetters and emerging leaders in the Asia-Pacific
region.'

In 2007, from October 3-6, the two brothers participated as
speakers in The Aspen Health Forum, a prestigious gathering of
US and international health leaders. The event is organized by
The Aspen Institute, 'an international nonprofit organization
dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded
dialogue.'

The Alaei brothers have received international recognition for
their leadership in HIV/AIDS issues in Iran and for helping to
develop model programs to fight AIDS and address the needs of
substance users. (Iran has a serious drug use problem,
particularly with heroin use, that has fueled the epidemic).
They have been featured in interviews by the BBC, the Washington
Post, and other media outlets. Their documentary 'Mohammad and
the Matchmaker,' which was broadcast by the BBC in June of 2004,
features to two brothers and their work to address stigma. It
features Maryam, a 21-year old widow whose world had fallen
apart after the death of her husband - a heroin addict.

For more information, contact Ladan Alomar at 518-842-3762 or
lalomar@centrocivico.org."

More background on brothers

DUBAI 00000042 002.2 OF 002



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3.(S//NF) Both Kamiar and Arash have received US visas annually
since 2003. Arash was a participant in the first IRPO IVLP
program in November 2006, on Public Health and Medicine. He
also attended meetings and a reception in honor of ECA Assistant
Secretary Goli Ameri in Dubai May 4. An Iranian American
resident in Dubai, who was questioned extensively by Iranian
authorities in early 2007, said that "Arash was under a lot of
stress at the same time that I was last year."

4.(S//NF) Following up on two successful Public Health IVLPs in
fall 2006, the Alaei brothers remained active in public health
related exchanges, including two Child Health and Development
IVLPs planned for later this summer. In addition, Arash
assisted in recruiting IVLP participants in several non-public
health areas.

5.(S//NF) Over the past 18 months, Arash has been ECA's and
IRPO's most active exchange alumnus. On a few occasions he
inquired whether he could serve "officially" as our main point
of contact for exchange. ECA/IRPO declined, believing this
would make Alaei a target for IRIG retribution.

6.(S//NF) Over the past few months, Arash was also assisting on
a maternal and child health exchange program arranged by ECA
through IREX Yerevan. Arash expressed concern to IRPoff during
his most recent May meeting in Dubai about one aspect of the
IREX program. Iranian-Armenian IREX employees were reportedly
recruiting and conducting candidate interviews in Iran. While
he expressed concern about the public nature of the IREX
program, he has always felt the value of the program offset the
risks.

7.(S//NF) As reftel details, an IREX employee working on this
exchange was detained in Tehran on June 26. At time of reftel
message, Dr. Arash Alaei was also suspected of being detained.
Based on the new information, it now appears that Dr. Kamiar
Alaei was also detained at the same time.

Potential assistance by USG

--------------

8.(S//NF) IRPO has not been contacted by the Alaei family and
has not been asked for any USG assistance or to make any public
statements. The Iranian American said he does not know the
family personally, but suggested that Jamie Metzel at the Asia
Society "would be the one to contact." IRPO has been in touch
with IREX and have asked them to coordinate any inquiries from
their Washington DC office with NEA/IR.
ASGARD