Durham University statement on the imprisonment of Ehsan Abdoh-Tabrizi

Latest Durham University statement on the imprisonment of Ehsan Abdoh-Tabrizi

Monday, October 4, 2010

Professor Anthony Forster, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) said:

"Durham University has not yet received a response to the open letter which it sent to Iran's Supreme Leader on 3 September 2010.

This letter followed a sustained programme of diplomatic correspondence with the Iranian Embassy in London, as agreed with Ehsan's family.

"Ehsan has now been imprisoned for more than 250 days and despite recent information from his family that his health has improved, the University remains deeply concerned about Ehsan's wellbeing and we are profoundly disappointed that recent attempts to achieve some clarity relating to Ehsan's imprisonment, and the timeline for his case to be heard, have not been acknowledged.

"As a result, the University has now written an open letter to Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, Head of the Judiciary in Iran, to ask that Ehsan's case is settled as quickly as possible to allow Ehsan to complete his studies in due course. This letter is published on the University's website.

"The University has written to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to seek further advice and continues to work with Ehsan's family and with other interested parties, including the media, to highlight Ehsan's plight."