The Committee on Academic Freedom (CAF) of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) on July 16th, sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei about their concern with Kian Tajbakhsh’s arrest and called for his immediate and unconditional release.

An excerpt of the full article is shown below:

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Our special concern with Dr. Tajbakhsh’s arrest and safety also stems from the fact that he was previously detained in 2007, held for four months in solitary confinement on the basis of charges that lacked credibility, and forced to participate in a sham “confession” which was broadcast on Iranian state television, before being released. Despite that harrowing experience, Dr. Tajbakhsh subsequently opted to remain in Iran and to continue working as an expert in urban planning and social policy in that country, given his unflagging commitment to the welfare of his native country and its people. We fear Dr. Tajbakhsh may again be a victim of concocted allegations.

Your Excellency, we call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Tajbakhsh, who was not involved in the recent protests, as well as those academics, scholars, and students arrested for no more than exercising their basic right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest (as guaranteed in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran). We also urge that these individuals be treated with absolute dignity and given access to legal representatives of their choosing while they remain in detention.
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Ayatollah Khamenei, detention, elections, Iran Arrests, iran crackdown, Iranian elections, Kian Tajbakhsh, Committee on Academic Freedom, CAF, Middle East Studies Association of North America, MESA