A HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OUR HELP
By W. Robert Pearson
Washington Times
anitarian-needs-our-help/?feat=home_commentary
Jun e 3 2009
The world is in need of a little healing right now, a time of change
and challenges among nations and cultures. Humanitarians around the
planet work in countless communities to help make things better —
as aid workers, teachers, journalists and spiritual leaders.
Yet every so often, a humanitarian’s relationship with the world gets
turned upside down, so instead of helping the world, that good-hearted
person needs our support.
Right now, my colleague Silva Harotonian sits in Iran’s notorious
Evin Prison, innocent of any wrongdoing yet sentenced to three years
in jail on political charges. We ask the world to come to her aid by
calling for her release. Silva’s story will sound familiar. Journalist
Roxana Saberi suffered through a similar ordeal during her detainment
on political charges, and Ms. Saberi’s release on May 11 gives hope
to those of us asking for mercy for Silva.
When the same legal basis for Ms. Saberi’s discharge is applied
to Silva’s case, it indicates Silva also should be granted
freedom. Additionally, Iran’s judiciary chief, Ayatollah Mahmoud
Hashemi Shahroudi, commented on Ms. Saberi’s appeal that "all the
aspects of this case, such as its moral and worldly elements, should
be considered in a careful, quick and fair way." As she approaches
her second and final appeal, Silva deserves the same.
Silva, an Iranian citizen of Armenian descent, has always been a
natural humanitarian. A compassionate soul, she actively served her
Armenian Christian church and cared for ailing family members. We
at the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) hired
then 33-year-old Silva in late 2007 to work on one of our many
international, peer-to-peer exchange programs.
As a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization with a 40-year
history of international academic and people-to-people exchange
initiatives, IREX employs more than 500 people around the world and
has touched many thousands without ever being accused of nefarious
intentions.
Silva provided administrative support for our Maternal and Child Health
Education and Exchange Program, which allowed health care professionals
in the United States and Iran to share information on best practices.
Despite her modest role, serving the women and children in her home
country of Iran struck a chord with Silva. She worked from our office
in Yerevan, Armenia, translating documents, answering phone inquiries
and occasionally traveling to Iran to explain program logistics to
the health care exchange’s participants.
At the end of Silva’s fourth trip to Iran, in June 2008, Iranian
authorities arrested her. Months later, they formally charged her with
conspiring to overthrow the government through a "soft revolution"
and then sentenced her to three years in prison. Her first appeal
was denied a few weeks ago.
Silva is no revolutionary. In fact, our colleague never took much
interest in politics or following the news. She preferred to write
poetry and go to the theater when she wasn’t working or caring for
her family.
Neither Silva nor we at IREX have secret agendas. We are nonpartisan
humanitarians and closely cooperate with the governments in the
countries where we have been granted permission to operate. Our work
around the world speaks for itself, as IREX has achieved successes
in Egypt, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Morocco and countless other places.
With the experience of 40 years serving in more than 100 countries,
we know misunderstandings can lead to severe consequences. After
almost one year in jail, Silva continues to pay dearly. With limited
prior life experience, she has served time that will forever impact
her life. Day by day, her spirits and health deteriorate. Now is the
time to send her home.
By releasing Silva to her family now, Iranian authorities can
demonstrate the need for law-abiding behavior and show the value of
forgiveness and mercy, as in Ms. Saberi’s situation. Such an act would
also reinforce the special, important role of humanitarians in the
world. Those who give so much to others deserve special consideration.
Like all of us at IREX, Silva conducted her work with pure intentions
of spreading good will, by helping mothers and children while promoting
Iran’s health care advancement.
As Silva appeals her conviction, we will keep pursuing all avenues
for her release. In addition, her family is working desperately to
bring her home. It has set up a Web site, , where
visitors can sign a petition of support. Together, our voices are
becoming louder and our pleas for freedom more meaningful.
On behalf of humanitarians doing good work around the world, please
join us in helping to bring Silva home.
W. Robert Pearson, president of the International Research & Exchanges
Board, is a former director general of the U.S. Foreign Service and
a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey.