The International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, for which Kian serves as a corresponding editor, has written a second letter to the Iranian authorities calling for his release.  The full text of the letter is available below the fold.

Dear Sir:

Earlier this year I wrote to you to protest the detention without charge in Tehran of Dr Kian Tajbakhsh. Dr Tajbakhsh has a well-deserved international reputation as an urban scholar, and we were delighted when, several years ago, he accepted our invitation to serve as a corresponding editor of the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research. Our journal is a leading international journal in the study of cities and regions worldwide. Dr Tajbakhsh has played an important role on our journal, advising us on the quality of submissions from Iran and the ‘Middle East’, and assisting Iranian scholars to bring their research to the attention of the international community of scholars.

I have read that Dr Haleh Esfandiari was released from jail, and am concerned that Dr Tajbakhsh remains in detention even though no charge has been brought against him in court. He has now been in detention for about 121 days, and there is no indication that the official ‘investigation’ into him is nearing completion. On behalf of colleagues across much of the world, I urge you to release Dr Tajbakhsh immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Jeremy Seekings
Professor, Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, and co-editor, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research

On behalf of the editors and Editorial Board of the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research: Alan Harding (UK, co-editor), Roger Keil (Germany/Canada, co-editor), Jeremy Seekings (UK/South Africa/USA, co-editor), Terry McBride (UK, managing editor), AbdouMaliq Simone (USA, debates and development editor), Talja Blokland (Netherlands, review editor), Julie-Anne Boudreau (Belgium/Canada), Neil Brenner (USA), Maria Kaika (Greece/UK), Takashi Machimura (Japan), Marcus de Melo (Brazil), Harvey Molotch (USA), Simon Parker (UK), Smriti Srinivas (India/USA), Min Zhou (China/USA).