Conservationists facing death penalty after filming cheetahs

[TinoPup]

This is beyond awful. 9 conservationists with the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, at least one of which is Canadian, were arrested in Iran last January and charged with spying. They had been using camera traps to try and record Asiatic cheetahs, of which there's only maybe 50 left in Iran. One of the 9 has already died in prison.

Iran has charged environmentalists with spying after they filmed a cheetah

Here's a timeline: Any Hope for Nature: Summary Chronology of Events and External Links
They are only just now starting to be allowed to talk to approved lawyers.

 

[TheEthiopianWolf03]

This is terrible. I am at loss of words.

 

[vogelcommando]

Update :

Jailed researchers trying to protect threatened cheetahs in Iran await verdict

 

[Arizona Docent]

I missed this thread when it was first posted, but I just found it and read the article in the update above. This is beyond disgusting ...there are no words.

 

[TinoPup]

Conservation groups urge fair trial for jailed Iranian researchers
The trials have begun in secret. Two of the conservationists are having health problems related to their captivity.

 

[Mbwamwitu]

Iran’s environment ministry had authorized their research activities, say the anonymous sources.

Trials began even though several Iranian government agencies, including a special committee appointed by President Hassan Rouhani, concluded in May 2018 that there is no evidence supporting the charges.

What is even going on!? :S

Does anyone have insight into why the Iranian government seems so extra vested in making life miserable and trials secret for these scientists, after the authorization and committee decisions by the government's own actors?

On a more general note, the terror of authoritarian governments worldwide exercising brutal suppression on researchers and conservationists is too real.

 

[TinoPup]

The sham courts found the conservationists "guilty", and they've been sentenced to 6-8 years in prison.
Cheetah researchers accused of spying sentenced in Iran
This is a terrifying precedent. They were already being abused and tortured before being convicted.

 

[Arizona Docent]

...This is a terrifying precedent...

It is indeed.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Really terrible news , barring violent death (which is in itself becoming very common in this field) this is the worst kind of scenario for conservationists to be caught up in and I really hope they are freed.

Reading the articles it is quite hard to understand why this has happened but it seems as if these men are just being treated as scapegoats / punchbags in Iran's paranoia about espionage and regime change for their tenuous connection with this Thomas Kaplan guy.

 

[Anniella]

I just read this now. I had previously read about the initial news months ago. As someone who cares about both wildlife conservation and the people of Iran, this just pisses me off.

 

[TinoPup]

One of the conservationists has been freed in the USA/Iran prisoner exchange that took place this week. Morad Tahbaz, a co-founder of Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, arrived back in the USA last night.
Iran-US prisoner swap under way

The others are still being held prisoner.