In a statment released marking the 100th day of Dr. Esfandiari’s imprisonment, Mikulski reaffirmed her commitment to Haleh’s case.
We know the government of Iran is watching what we do, and we want them to know we will not relent. We want all four released immediately and allowed to return to their families.
For the full statement, click here
With Dr. Esfandiari continued detention, even more people are voicing their concerns. Former colleague Anita Sharma lent her insight into the nature of Haleh’s work and how Dr. Esfandiari “preferred to promote dialogue and sharing of ideas without passing judgments”, expresses her outrage at this “unjust incarceration”. Over 7,500 people have signed an on-line petition, and organizations, such as the Feminist Majority Foundation, and many US Senators have sent individual statements of support for Haleh Esfandiari. We continue to echo our original message: Dr. Haleh’s unjust imprisonment must be brought to an end.
Today, Haleh has been held in Evin Prison for 101 days. Yesterday, the Wilson Center released a statement marking a grim anniversary:
Today marks the 100th day of imprisonment for Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Middle East Program. Esfandiari has been incarcerated in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran since May 8, on allegations of endangering Iranian national security.
“We are extremely dismayed about Haleh’s situation, and our concerns about her health and mental well-being have only increased as weeks of captivity have stretched into months,” said Sharon McCarter, communications director of the Woodrow Wilson Center. “A renowned scholar and a tireless advocate for greater dialogue between Iran and the United States, Haleh has committed no crimes. The Iranian Judiciary has said that the investigation of Haleh and Kian Tajbakhsh is complete. Our plea to the Iranian government remains simple: Let Haleh go. She has done nothing wrong. We ask for Haleh’s safe return to her family immediately, as well as the release and safe return of all of the detained Iranian-Americans.”
The story was also picked up by Ms. Magazine, and Haleh’s case was featured on the Democracy Arsenal blog and Radio Liberty.
The Associated Press provides the latest update on Haleh’s case:
Iran’s judiciary has concluded investigations into two detained Iranian-Americans accused of conspiring against the country’s security, a top judiciary official said. But no decision has been made on whether they will be put on trial, he said.
“Investigation into Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh is over,” said Tehran Deputy Prosecutor Hasan Haddad late Sunday, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Haddad said the two scholars now had “some written work” to do before a decision is made about their fate. He did not explain what written work would be required from the two scholars, who have been detained since May in Tehran’s Evin prison, notorious for the harsh conditions under which it holds political prisoners.
“The two have some written work to do. Then, a decision will be taken about them,” Haddad said.
Shirin Ebadi, Haleh Esfandiari’s lawyer, appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council asking for Haleh’s release. She noted that Esfandiari had not only been arrested arbitrarily, but she has been denied a fair trial.
“My client has been kept in solitary confinement since May 8, is denied visits and deprived from all the rights considered for prisoners in the Iranian law,” said Ebadi
For the complete article, click here.
In his most recent article in Huffington Post, Sam Sedaei writes about Haleh Esfandiari’s critical situation in Iran. He underscores the need for action, and suggests the following:
You can help Esfandiari by demanding your Senators to publicly call for the release of this American citizen, ask them to not stop talking about Esfandiari until she is released and tell them to demand that the White House break the silence on this arrest and ask the Iranian government for the release of Dr. Esfandiari. We will not get our respect in the world back if we quietly sit by and allow our citizens to be falsely charged and imprisoned by rogue regimes such as that of President Ahmadinejad.
We urge you to follow this advice and contact your senators as soon as possible to remind them of the importance and the urgency of the situation.
To find your senator, click here.
For the full article, click here.
Barack Obama voiced his concern for the wrongful imprisonment of Haleh Esfandiari in a letter that he sent to Mostafa Rahmani, the Director of the Iranian Interest Section in Washington DC, on July 30.
I write today to repeat my call that Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, a distinguished scholar and the Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, be immediately and unconditionally released and permitted to return to the United States. She has been unjustly imprisoned in Iran since May 8, 2007.
It has now been more than six months since Dr. Esfandiari was forbidden to return to the United States, and more than two months since she was detained in solitary confinement and denied legal counsel.
In his national security address at the Woodrow Wilson center, Senator Obama voiced his concern over the unjust imprisonment of Haleh Esfandiari:
Let me also say that my thoughts and prayers are with your colleague, Haleh Esfandiari, and her family. I have made my position known to the Iranian government. It is time for Haleh to be released. It is time for Haleh to come home.
For the full speech, click here.
