Calling for the release of Omid Kokabee

On behalf of the ICFO Director, Prof. Lluis Torner, we would like to inform you that the Scholars at Risk Network is requesting letters, emails and documents, calling for the release of Omid Kokabee from prison in Iran. Omid Kokabee, former student at ICFO and later doctoral student at the University of Texas, was sentenced in 2011 by the Islamic Revolutionary Court to a prison term of 10 years for "communication with the hostile government". Omid, who is imprisoned for over five years, was awarded in 2014 with the Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science - AAAS) and the Andrei Sakharov prize 2014 Prize of the American Physical Society (American Physical Society). Omid has recently been diagnosed with kidney cancer after years in which the Iranian prison authorities have denied him treatment. His family has requested his immediate release due to serious health problems. "Scholars at Risk" (SAR), an international network of institutions and individuals working to promote academic freedom and the defense of human rights researchers worldwide, is promoting an appeal letter urging the Iranian authorities to reconsider the sentence against Omid, and while his early release is reconsidered, provide adequate medical care, in accordance with Iran's obligations under international law. ICFO encourages all members of the scientific community to support this appeal letter in order to get the request SAR facilitates the treatment and release of Omid.

Link to SAR network - Kokabee Petition:

https://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50943/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18379

Link to the news agency Reuters:

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN0XF222?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true