MEEA Position on the Arrest of Dr. Fariborz Rais-Dana in Iran

December 20, 2010

In the early hours of Sunday, December 19, 2010 security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran arrested Dr. Fariborz Rais-Dana in his house in Tehran.

Dr. Rais-Dana is a senior professor of economics, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Writers' Guild of Iran. He is a well-known and highly respected scholar for his contributions to the study of the Iranian economy. He has taken his professional and social responsibility seriously by taking part in the public policy discourse. While in democratic societies scientists, professionals and academics are free, and even encouraged, to take part in public policy discourse, Dr. Rais-Dana has been arrested for expressing his professional view about the economic conditions of Iran and the economic policies pursued by the government.

Middle East Economic Association (MEEA), as a professional association of economists interested in the study of the Middle East economies, is dedicated to the promotion of economic studies and enrichment of economic discourse on the Middle East. The arrest of Dr. Rais-Dana in response to the expression of his professional views on economic policies is a violation of his human rights and academic freedom. MEEA condemns the arrest of Dr. Rais-Dana and demands his immediate release.

Committee for Human Rights and Academic Freedom (CHARAF) Middle East Economic Association