Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 7 / Trend K.Zarbaliyeva /
The Azerbaijani Scientist Rights Protection Committee appealed to MPs, asking them to send an official appeal to the Iranian parliament about the recent arrest of an academic in Iran, Committee Chairman Soltanhamid Malikov told Trend today.
He added that Iran has not yet officially responded to Azerbaijan about the reasons for the man's arrest.
Rashid Aliyev, who is head engineer and physicist at the Biological Laboratory of the Institute for Physical Problems at Baku State University, worked with the Iranian Sazan Elektronics Industry company from 2006-2008.
The company's head repeatedly asked the scientist to move to Iran during their activities. However, Aliyev refused the proposal and returned to Azerbaijan. After numerous requests by the company's Director Abbas Eftekhari, Aliyev returned to Iran for a short period Oct. 5. He was arrested the following day for alleged visa problems.
"Aliyev's arrest has no relation to the contract signed between our firm and Baku State University," Eftekhari told Trend earlier.
The Azerbaijani Justice Ministry sent an inquiry to the Iranian government after his arrest.
"I had a telephone conversation with the academic few days ago and the academic said that he does not have health problems," Malikov added.
"Aliyev said former Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Abbasali Hasanov has visited him," he noted, adding that he does not have detailed information about the visit.
Aliyev is being held at the Evin Jail's Fifth Building.
Aliyev suspended his scientific activity in the private sector when he voluntarily went to serve in the army at age 38. He installed special purpose communications systems until 1999 and later organized and conducted laser technology tests for the military.
Aliyev was also involved in overhauling the border patrol.
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