Dear supporters,

Today I'm writing to you to call for your solidarity for an innocent arts academic, Aras Amiri, who has been wrongly imprisoned in Iran - in difficult cases such as those of political prisoners in Iran, the very least we can do is show our support to the victims and their families...let's show them they're not alone.

Aras Amiri is a UK-based arts curator and student at Kingston University, London.

In March 2018 on returning from a 7-day visit to her sick grandmother in Iran she was arrested by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence on unspecified charges relating to "national security" - just like Matt was last year in the UAE.

Just like Matt, Aras was placed in solitary confinement, was not permitted access to a lawyer and was forced to make statements under duress during 50 days of interrogations from morning till night.

Just like Matt, she was asked to work as an informant for the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence in the UK which she refused. After nine further months in prison, a spokesman for the Iranian judiciary announced to international media (before Aras's lawyer had been informed) that she had received a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment...just like Matt, under false and unjustifiable charges.

Aras is an Iranian citizen who was an employee of the British Council since 2013. She worked in London and with the permission and cooperation of the Iranian government's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, her role was to support cultural programmes enabling the presentation and appreciation of Iranian contemporary art, literature, film, theatre and music across the UK.  

Aras has made a significant contribution both to UK and Iranian arts and culture in presenting the extraordinary work of Iranian artists working across cinema, music, literature, theatre and visual arts. She has enabled UK audiences to better understand the unique and outstanding achievements of Iranian art and culture and the complex and long history between both Iran and the UK. 

To arrest, imprison and sentence a cultural worker who respected and followed all correct procedures is an act of scapegoating and an unjust abuse of power against an individual who respected the laws of her country.  

Please sign and share the linked petition - a statement of support for Aras Amiri, a dear friend and student who's worked tirelessly in her commitment to the arts and Iranian culture. We urge the relevant authorities to ensure Aras's release without delay.