Anniversary of Mahsa; Continuation of Free and Confidential Services by 'Mahsa Medical'

Following the killing of Mahsa Zhina Amini and the onset of public protests and government crackdowns in Iran, a number of Iranian doctors abroad voluntarily began to document events, assist affected citizens, and support their colleagues inside Iran. The group 'Mahsa Medical' (Medical Alliance for Health Services) was initiated by Arash and Kamyar Alaei three weeks after Mahsa's death. Dr. Arash Alaei told Voice of America that about eighty specialists joined the 'Mahsa Medical' group in response to the initial call, and today around 250 specialist doctors from around the world collaborate with this group to provide free services. He added that the group of human rights doctors from Germany and Austria has also recently joined them, which has increased the power and impact of 'Mahsa Medical'. Since the start of the group's medical services, hundreds of individuals have received medical consultations. Dr. Alaei states that the group has so far had one thousand seven hundred eighty-six visits, including those with eye injuries. Individuals who have been shot and those needing psychological counseling constitute the majority of the visits to the Mahsa Medical group. In addition to consultations, the 'Mahsa Medical' group is also in contact with doctors active in Iran and refers individuals to them if necessary. The services of 'Mahsa Medical' are completely free, and according to Dr. Alaei, collaborating doctors in Iran do not charge patients either. Assistance for those with eye injuries to obtain eye prosthetics, mental health services, and help for individuals who have suffered physical injuries from gunfire or beatings, as well as those who were imprisoned during protests but needed other medical care, are among the main activities of the Mahsa Medical group. The group also formed a dedicated team for toxicology and poisoning consultations during the chemical attacks on schools in Iran, and in addition to conducting extensive research in this regard, provided consultations to individuals who suffered chemical injuries in schools. The scope of 'Mahsa Medical's' activities includes providing telemedicine services and educational programs for the general public as well as individuals working in health sectors without specialization. Dr. Arash Alaei states that in areas where there are no specialist doctors, nurses or general practitioners may need specialized consultations, and the 'Mahsa Medical' group provides this opportunity for them. The group has also documented cases of beatings and, according to Dr. Alaei, is currently negotiating and collaborating with international bodies, including the United Nations fact-finding committee, to hold the Iranian regime accountable. From documenting incidents of beatings to providing health assistance, Dr. Arash Alaei told Voice of America that at the beginning of the public protests after Mahsa's death, the main issue was the beatings of people by government forces, and he and his brother Dr. Kamyar Alaei decided to create a mechanism based on the 'Istanbul Protocol' of the United Nations, which they had also completed supplementary courses on, to register these incidents and events. The Istanbul Protocol sets international legal standards and provides guidelines on how to document and conduct effective legal and medical investigations regarding allegations of torture and mistreatment. 'Mahsa Medical', with the support of Dariush Eghbali, a renowned Iranian singer, was able to reach a large number of medical colleagues worldwide to adapt the Istanbul Protocol into Persian and document the ongoing events in the streets of Iran. After a few weeks, government forces raided hospitals and clinics, threatening and putting pressure on doctors. Mahsa Medical decided to focus its activities on health assistance, and the medical services of this group officially began. Dr. Arash Alaei states that 'Mahsa Medical' will continue to provide its free services confidentially and anonymously. He told Voice of America, 'In our meetings, we concluded that this uprising will not end, and we will keep this human force that has come together and dedicates their time for their compatriots.' Dr. Alaei mentions that during periods when visits for physical injuries are low, services will be provided to deprived areas from Kurdistan to Kermanshah, Islam, and Sistan and Baluchestan, so that those with limited access to specialized medical services can receive the necessary support. Kamyar Alaei from 'Mahsa Medical' discusses providing free medical services to protesters in Iran, stating that the Doctor's Day ceremony in Iran was held in the absence of the doctors killed during the protests. The mental health staff protested against the Islamic Republic's rulings, stating that psychotherapy does not change beliefs. The continuation of the 'chemical attack' on schools in Iran occurred one day after the publication of the Ministry of Intelligence report. A medical group stated: 'We help protesters who have lost their eyes due to beatings.'