AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

In August, 2006, 80 Iranian citizens had their legally obtained visas revoked while trying to enter the United States. Most of those who had their visas revoked were scientists and engineers, the rest were family members traveling with them. The scientists and engineers were all graduates or faculty members of the Sharif University of Technology on their way to a university reunion in Northern California. Some of the scientists and their families were held overnight in local jails and deported the following day, without any official explanation.

Although the majority of the 600 event participants currently reside in the U.S., about 120 visas were granted for participants traveling from Iran. The scientists, some traveling with their spouses and children, had obtained 15-day visitor visas to attend the alumni reunion, organized by the Sharif University of Technology Association, a non-profit organization aiming to "facilitate communication and collaboration" among the graduates, faculty and staff of the Sharif University. Some members were told that their visas were revoked under a 2002 U.S. law that bars the issuance of visas to nationals of Iran and four other countries regarded as "state sponsors of terrorism," unless the person is deemed to be no threat to national security. Additionally, several Iranian scientists were told by U.S. officials that they could either volunteer to return home or be subject to deportation and restrictions on return visits.

Reunion organizers fear that the U.S. actions targeting some of Iran's best and brightest scientific minds will only further heighten the volatile relations between Iran and the United States. A Department of State spokesperson has denied that the sudden revoking of the scientists' visas was political, but would not comment on why the action was taken. Some of those detained described humiliating experiences and being "treated like criminals." At least one conference attendees was separated from her children, who were reportedly sent to a children's detention center, while she was confined in a crowded jail cell overnight.

(Sources of information for this case include: Sharif University of Technology Association, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Science and Development Network)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

American Convention on Human Rights

• Article 07: Everyone has the right to personal liberty and security. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or imprisonment.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 12(2): Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 13(2): Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his [or her] own, and to return to his country.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing concern about the revocation of valid entry visas to over 80 Iranian scientists seeking to engage in legitimate academic activities in the U.S.; and
• Respectfully reminding the U.S. government that the free exchange of ideas is one of the most basic values of the scientific enterprise, and the freedom to travel is one of the most important ways of furthering that exchange.

  APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

  Secretary Condoleezza Rice
  Secretary of State
  Department of State
  2201 C Street , NW
  Washington DC 20520
  email via webform:
  http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=uMxC5h3i&p_lva=&p_sp=&p_li=
  Fax: (202) 647-4000 (TEL)
  secretary@state.gov
  Salutation: Dear Madame Secretary

  Prakash Khatri
  Ombudsman: Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services
  Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services
  United States Department of Homeland Security
  Washington, D.C. 20528
  cisombudsman@dhs.gov
  Salutation: Dear Dr. Khatri

  Emilio T. Gonzalez
  Director: Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services
  Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services
  United States Department of Homeland Security
  Washington, D.C. 20528
  Salutation: Dear Dr. Gonzalez

  The Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA)
  The Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA)
  U.S. Department of State
  2201 C Street NW
  Washington, DC 20520
  usvisa@state.gov
  Salutation: To whom it may concern

  Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Josh Robbins, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email jrobbins@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.

  
  

  Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program