Iranian scholar released from detention

Although Mehdi Zakerian, human rights professor at the Islamic Azad University in Tehran, Iran, was invited to teach at the Penn Law School last year, he was unable to come when Iranian authorities detained him on suspicions of espionage around Aug. 15, according to Amnesty International.

He was released around Oct. 20, but he remains unable to travel to the United States since authorities have not returned his passport.

Zakerian's detention sparked an international appeals petition for his release by students, lawyers and human rights advocates.

"The public outcry was important in securing [Zakerian's] release, though it obviously put him under scrutiny," said Penn Law Dean Michael Fitts. "We are trying to walk the thin line between securing his safety and causing him greater problems."

Zakerian was able to meet his family in Tehran on Sept. 6 and told them that no formal charges were being filed, though he was suspected of breaching national security and committing espionage.

After his release in October, he returned to his post at IAU, from which he was dismissed without explanation in September 2007.

Penn Law human rights professor William Burke-White met Zakerian on a trip to Iran last year. When he returned, he spoke to Fitts, and Penn Law invited Zakerian to teach as a guest scholar.

"We invited Dr. Zakerian to come to Penn . due to his excellent academic record as one of the leading scholars in international law and human rights from the region," said Burke-White.

However, Zakerian cannot leave Iran until after his upcoming trial for the charges against him is completed.

"We certainly hope the Iranian government will recognize that he is merely a scholar and that he will be exonerated of any and all charges against him," said Burke-White. "We would gladly welcome him at the law school when is he able to travel."

Nanda Srikantaiah, a second year law student, said, "It is a travesty that he has been detained and not been allowed to come over and teach. " As an international human rights activist, she said there is not much they can do from here.

The school is "concerned for [Zakerian's] welfare," said Fitts.

He added that Zakerian is "not free as every citizen in the world should be."

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