John, the latest Human Rights Tracker update from NIAC is here.Click here to view this update in your browser. [[link removed]]
# [#]
[link removed] [[link removed]]A letter [[link removed]] signed by conservationists from around the globe marked World Environment Day, June 5th, by calling for the protection of Persian leopards and their defenders. Prepared by world-renowned conservationist Jane Goodall and Iranian conservationist Hedieyeh Tehrany, the letter specifically refers to seven Iranian conservationists—Niloufar Bayani, Sepideh Kashani, Amirhossein Khaleghi, Taher Ghadirian, Sam Rajabi, Houman Jowkar and Morad Tahbaz—who have languished in Iranian prisons for over four years.
The seven remaining prisoners were part of a group of nine conservationists affiliated with the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, who were detained [[link removed]] in January of 2018 on bogus charges of “spying” after using cameras as part of their research. Soon after the group’s arrest, distinguished environmentalist and Iranian-Canadian professor Kavous Seyed Emami died [[link removed]] while in custody. Though an Iranian court upheld [[link removed]] their appalling sentences, which ranged between 4-10 years, in February of 2020, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh was released [[link removed]] from prison a month later following a directive to release a large number of prisoners in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier this year there was hope for the release [[link removed]] of Morad Tahbaz along with the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, both Iranian dual-nationals wrongly imprisoned by Iranian authorities as pawns in the political grievances of governments. However, after conflicting reports, Tahbaz was returned [[link removed]] to prison.
The case of Tahbaz and the remaining conservationists has captured the attention of human rights as well as environmental activists, who see their work as imperative to the protection of the planet and Iran’s biodiversity. In addition to the letter that was timed to be released during World Environment Day, Executive Director of the United Nations’ Environment Programme Inger Andersen tweeted [[link removed]] her support for the jailed-Iranian environmentalists and also called for their release, stating, “We have only one earth and those that seek to protect the planet should not be prosecuted for doing so.”
Rather than wrongfully treating them like criminals, Iranian authorities should applaud these individuals for their commendable efforts to save endangered animals and protect the planet we all share. NIAC joins the calls demanding their immediate and unconditional release. While the remaining seven conservationists have already spent over four years in prison, and endured many injustices from lack of due process to maltreatment and torture, every day that their freedom is denied that cruelty is deepened.
NIAC works to advance the Iranian American community.
Your support helps us to do more of this important work → [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]]
This is an email from the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). NIAC's Human Rights Tracker [[link removed]] is part of our efforts to spotlight human rights in Iran as a means of holding the Iranian government accountable. As an American organization, we don't have a role to play in the domestic affairs of Iran. But we do have an obligation to support international human rights standards to which the U.S. and Iran are party.
Thanks for being a subscriber. Our address is PO Box 65439, Washington, DC 20006. You've received this email because you subscribed to our Human Rights Tracker updates. You can unsubscribe from all emails from NIAC or change your preferences at any time by clicking here [[link removed]] . If you were forwarded this email by a friend, you can subscribe to receive our updates here [[link removed]] . Thanks for your support.