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On Monday, the second of two brothers known for their HIV work in Iran was released from a Tehran jail. Arash Alaei and his brother Kamiar were arrested in June 2008 for allegedly conspiring against the regime of President Ahmadinejad. Arash ultimately served nearly three years of his six-year sentence.
“He was among 100 Iranian political prisoners who got a pardon today due to the coming end of the Ramadan religious holiday, Eid al-Fitr,” said Kamiar, who was freed earlier this year after an 870-day stint. On his Facebook webpage, Kamiar thanked friends, family and colleagues for their “tireless help and support.” He is currently pursuing a doctorate in public health in Albany, N.Y.
In the late 1990s, the two physicians developed a best-practices model of treatment, prevention, and care for HIV patients, starting at a prison in their hometown of Kermanshah. The brothers are recognized for their pioneering work with HIV-positive injection drug users.
Physicians for Human Rights helped organize a letter-writing campaign in 80 countries to appeal for the brothers’ release.
Arash is now with his mother at the family’s home in Tehran, Kamiar said. “He is happy since his other political cellmates got released, too,” he added.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
