Free Dr. Haleh Esfandiari

Dr. Haleh Esfandiari

NOTE: THIS CAMPAIGN IS CLOSED. HALEH HAS BEEN RELEASED! SUCCESS!

Dr. Haleh Esfandiari is the Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. A 67-year-old Iranian-American, she is an expert on Middle Eastern women's issues and Iranian affairs.

In December, Haleh was in Iran visiting her 93-year-old mother, as she does twice a year. On her way to the airport to head home, Haleh's passports were stolen by masked gunmen. When she went to replace her passport, she was interrogated at the Intelligence Ministry and then held under house arrest. On May 8, security forces took her to Evin Prison, where she remains today in solitary confinement.

The "Free Haleh" campaign has been initiated by an international coalition of organizations and endorsed by prominent scholars and leaders from across the political spectrum. Please join us by sending a letter (using the form below) to Iranian officials. If you wish, your name will be added to a list of participants.

11478 people have sent letters as part of this campaign. Click here to see who has sent a letter.

Fill out the form below to e-mail a letter to:

  • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
  • Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
  • M. Javad Zarif, Iran's Ambassador to the UN
Release Dr. Haleh Esfandiari from Evin Prison
Dear [Decision Maker],

I write to call for the release of Dr. Haleh Esfandiari from Evin Prison.

Dr. Esfandiari is a scholar respected across the Middle East for her work building bridges between societies. She has mentored professionals from across the region and is known for academic integrity.

I believe the Iranian security services have made a mistake in detaining this 67-year-old woman, who was in Iran to visit her 93 year-old mother.

I ask the Iranian government to correct the mistake, release Haleh from prison, and let her return to her family.

This campaign is no longer open.