Programs: Science and Policy
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AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program
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AAAS Human Rights Action Network
| Date: | 20 February 2003 |
| Case Number: | ir0219_agh |
| Victim: | Hashem Aghajari |
| Country: | Iran |
| Subject: | Academic’s Death Sentence Repealed |
| Issues: | Academic and scientific freedom; Freedom of opinion and expression; Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; Threat of long-term imprisonment or capital punishment |
| Type of alert: | Update |
| Related alerts: | 12 November 2002; 6 May 2004; 30 June 2004; 22 July 2004 |
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FACTS OF THE CASE:
A recent newspaper article reported that the November 2002 death sentence against Dr. Hashem Aghajari, a professor of history at Tarbiat Moddaress University in Tehran, has been repealed. The Iranian Judiciary has neither confirmed nor denied the report.
Dr. Aghajari was sentenced to death for apostasy after a university lecture he gave in which he rejected demands to “blindly follow” clerical rule and called for reform within the Islamic clerical establishment. The speech was met with an immediate outcry from conservative clerics, who denounced Dr. Aghajari for attacking fundamental Shiite Islamic traditions.
The sentence was condemned as cruel and excessive among more liberal religious leaders in Iran as well as the international human rights community. The sentence also touched off two weeks of protests by university students.
Dr. Aghajari’s case has been referred to the Qom branch of the Supreme Court, where his lawyers are appealing the verdict.
(Sources of information for this case include: Amnesty International, Network of Concerned Historians, and Radio Free Europe’s Iran Report.)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
No action is necessary at this time. AAASHRAN staff will continue to monitor the case and provide updates as information becomes available. Many thanks to those who have sent appeal letters.
Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.
The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.
To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.
To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.
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