20260128-Iran-OpenLetter

WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE
ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL
Centre International de Bureaux
Immeuble A “Keynes” Website : www.wma.net Postal Address :
13, chemin du Levant Telephone : (33) 4 50 40 75 75 Boîte Postale 63
01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Fax : (33) 4 50 40 59 37 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Cedex
France E-mail address : wma@wma.net France
OPEN LETTER
 H.E. Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
 Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader
 H.E. Eskjandar Momeni, Minister of Interior
 H.E. Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, Head of judiciary
28 January 2026
URGENT
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you on behalf of the World Medical Association (WMA), the global federation of
National Medical Associations representing millions of physicians worldwide and committed to
advancing good medical practice, medical ethics, and professional accountability across the
international community.
We are gravely concerned by numerous corroborating reports indicating a sharp rise in violence
against health personnel in Iran in recent weeks. In the provinces of Isfahan, Shahar Mahal and
Bakhtiari, security forces have reportedly arrested injured protesters within hospital premises. We
have also been informed that hospital staff are instructed to report patients suffering gunfire injuries
to security authorities, with non-compliance exposing them to prosecution and other forms of
reprisal.
We are deeply outraged and dismayed to learn that physicians in Iran are being arrested and even
facing the death penalty for fulfilling their ethical duty to treat the wounded. Dr. Alizera Golchini is
among those health professionals whose lives are now at risk simply for practicing medicine
ethically and striving to save lives.
The World Medical Association condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the use of violence by
security forces, the misuse of medical facilities to support the repression of demonstrations, and the
persecution of health professionals. These practices constitute grave violations of the core ethical
principles of our profession as well as fundamental human rights, including the right to health and
the freedom of expression.
WMA page 2
In solidarity with our Iranian colleagues, we call for the immediate and unconditional release of all
physicians detained solely for carrying out their professional responsibilities. We urge the Iranian
authorities to ensure safe working conditions for health personnel and to safeguard all medical
facilities from misuse. Physicians must be able to perform their duties without obstruction,
interference, or fear of reprisal, in accordance with the principle of medical neutrality.
We further call for an immediate end to the use of violence by security forces, and for independent,
impartial investigations into all alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights
law, with clear guarantees that those responsible will be held fully accountable.
The Islamic Republic of Iran must uphold its international obligations, particularly those arising
from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which Iran ratified in 1975 and to which it remains
fully accountable.
We strongly urge the Iranian authorities to treat all individuals under their jurisdiction with respect,
dignity, and humanity.
Respectfully,
Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu
President of the World Medical Association
Copy: Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office in Geneva: