In February 2018, Niloufar Bayani and seven environmental conservationists were imprisoned and subsequently sentenced to lengthy jail terms in the Republic of Iran. Taking note of the pardons recently issued by the Iranian authorities, we call for the safe return home of Ms. Bayani, and indeed all the environmental conservationists imprisoned in Iran. 

A conservation biologist by training with degrees from McGill University, Canada and Colombia University, USA, Niloufar was hired as a project consultant for the United Nations Environment Programme 2012-2017.  Niloufar returned home in 2017 with a deep conviction to help conserve her country’s natural heritage and notably the Asian Cheetah. She was arrested in February 2018 along with other internationally recognized experts in the field of nature conservation, accused of spying because of the camera traps they were using.  Niloufar was only 29 years old at the time of her arrest and has another five years remaining of her prison sentence.

Our natural world is under tremendous pressure. The triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, threatens to erode decades of progress on poverty reduction and sustainable development. Environmental conservationists are critical allies in protecting the rights of current and future generations to a clean, health and sustainable environment. We cannot build a better future without them.   

We continue to plea to Iranian authorities for the release of Niloufar Bayani and other conservationists on humanitarian grounds.

For further information and updates about Niloufar’s case please go to the Scholar’s at Risk advocacy page at: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/actions/niloufar-bayani-iran/#Case%20Information

See the United Nations Environment Programme press release on 13 February, 2023 pleading for Niloufar’s release  https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/statements/unep-renews-plea-release-environmental-conservationist-niloufar-bayani