Improving global prehospital and emergency medicine, public health, and disaster health care and preparedness

Save Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali

In April 2016, Disaster Medicine expert Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, MD, PhD was wrongfully arrested after attending an academic conference in Iran. While imprisoned, Dr. Djalali was psychologically abused and physically mistreated, his medical care was delayed, and he was frequently kept in solitary confinement. He signed a coerced confession without proper legal representation. On 1 December, Dr. Djalali was transferred to Rajai Shahr prison where his execution could occur at any moment!

WADEM is urgently asking that you help increase the visibility of this situation so that international pressure can assist in bringing back the innocent Dr. Djalali to his family in Sweden.


Actionable Items:

  • If an organization, become a signatory to this letter started by FIDU (Federazione Italiana Diritti Umani) – https://fidu.it/save-ahmad-2.
  • If an individual, share this letter to human rights councils/organizations – https://fidu.it/save-ahmad-2 – and/or become a signatory to the letter by sending an email to – campagne@fidu.it.
  • If an individual, send this email to your local and national media outlets asking for assistance in increasing visibility to put additional international pressure on the situation.
  • If on social media, share the hashtag #SaveAhmadreza on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., and tag @amnesty, @UNOCHA, @iran_GOV, or any other social media user handle to raise awareness.

His story and innocence have been supported by Nature, over 150 Nobel Laureates, the UN Human Rights Council, an Amnesty petition with more than 190,000 signatures, and a Change.org petition with over 300,000 signatures.

Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali is a renowned disaster medicine expert and his loss will be felt internationally as not only an innocent man but a bright mind that can desperately help our world navigate the impending number of global disasters.

Please help us. Time is running out!