Free Kian

On Friday, May 11, 2007, Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh was arrested in Tehran and has been held in Evin Prison since then. Kian is one of four prominent Iranian American's to be arrested in the last month.

Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh is an internationally-respected scholar, social scientist and urban planner. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, and has taught at both American and Iranian universities. Dr. Tajbakhsh is also an international expert in the areas of local government reform, urban planning, public health, and social policy. He has consulted for several Iranian government organizations, including the Municipalities Organization, the Social Security Organization, and the Ministry of the Interior, and with international nongovernmental organizations such as the World Bank, the Open Society Institute, and the Netherlands Association of Municipalities. His work in Iran has included evaluating humanitarian relief and rebuilding projects in the aftermath of the devastating 2003 earthquake in Bam.

Friends of Kian have launched a petition and campaign for his release at FreeKian.org.

Here is an Op-Ed in Pakistan's Daily Times on the arrest of the prominent Iranian Americans and why these arrests are deterring reconciliation.