Today.com’s Official Disability Rights Blog

As people here know, I consider HIV/AIDS a disability. So does the World Health Organization and the Americans with Disabilities Act. So if you have a problem with my position, take it up with them. Trust me, you don’t want to take it up with me. But that’s a different subject for a different day.

According to Physicians for Social Responsibility, two Iranian AIDS researchers – brothers Arash and Kamiar Alaei – have been arrested and charged with communicating with an enemy government.  Excuse me; I thought that was what you did when you were trying to solve a public health problem.  As far as I know, trying to treat HIV is not a crime in any country of the world.  What does a virus know about international borders?  And can we afford to be affected by them when we’re trying to stop it?

According to Declan Butler, “Of course, viruses don’t care which hosts have been talking to members of ‘enemy regimes’ or friendly ones.  Viruses don’t care who is a Shiite, a Sunni, or an infidel.  Viruses are just looking for a suitable host so they can get to the business of replicating.”

I’m a health educator, and my reaction to that line of thought was, “well, duh.”  On Monday, at 9am, I am calling the Iranian Mission to the UN.  You should call too, and tell them that imprisoning people who want to end the AIDS crisis is a bad idea and a publicity nightmare.  Now, the Iranian government has delayed the verdict, which will keep them in jail longer or keep them from being punished, whatever that might entail in Iran.  Personally, I don’t want to think about it.

The number is 1-212-687-2020.  Tell them why you are calling – something along the lines of, “I want to voice my objection to the trial of the Alaei brothers (I theorize it’s pronounced “uh-LIE-ee” but I’m not sure — however, I am sure they’ll know who you are talking about, so do not let fear of bad enunciation stop you from calling), on the basis that you have to communicate with other researchers if you want to cure AIDS.”  I am also going to conduct my own fax zap.  For people who don’t know what that means, it means either doing it yourself with your own personal fax machine or paying someone $20 or so to repeatedly send the same fax to the same number.  I don’t have much money, but I figure doing this could count as my tithe for the month.  You can fax, too – to 1-212-867-7086. The website in support of the doctors — http://iranfreethedocs.org — is requesting that after you fax or call, you email the doctors’ support system at skalloch@phrusa.org so they know what you did.

Just when I think the world can’t get any more ridiculous or insane, something like this happens and I have to raise my bar on how crazy the world can get.  As a health educator, I think this is dangerous.  As a person dedicated to ending the AIDS crisis, I think this is dangerous.  As a disability rights activist, I think this is dangerous.  Basically, as a whole person, I think this is dangerous.  As a person concerned with health care, especially health care for the underprivileged and disabled, I urge you to spend 10 minutes on Monday and $10-20 faxing the Iranian government, letting them know the world is watching.

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