8 conservationists face death penalty for trying to save endangered animals

These Eight International Conservationists Are Facing the Death Penalty in Iran for Trying to Film Endangered Cheetahs! Sign Now Dear friends, Update: Eight renowned conservationists are still locked up and facing the death penalty in Iran for conducting government-sanctioned wildlife studies. Two Iranian government agencies have since investigated the charges against them and even cleared them of all wrongdoing — but to no avail. Sign the petition to save these scientists, and to protect all conservation efforts in Iran! In January, Iranian officials arrested eight renowned nature conservationists. All are members of a local, but internationally known, environmental group called the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation. Their mission was to monitor rare Asiatic cheetahs and other endangered wildlife. Despite the fact that they worked with the Iranian government to secure permits and conduct their research, Iran's Revolutionary Guards is now accusing them of using camera traps to spy on the nation's ballistic missile program. One of the activists died in detention mere weeks later, under suspicious circumstances. Iranian authorities claimed that he died by suicide, but they have not conducted an impartial investigation into his death. Then they arrested yet another conservationist to replace the one they may have killed! Now, four of these scientists are threatened with the death penalty. Urge the Iranian government to provide the detainees with the opportunity of a fair trial by adding your name to this Care2 petition! The conservationists serve on international organizations that add or remove species from threatened species lists. Among them are two cat specialists and a bear specialist. They are still behind bars and facing years in prison and even execution, just for trying to protect animals. In November, more than 340 conservationists and scholars from 70 countries across the world, including UN Ambassador of Peace, Jane Goodall DBE, signed a letter expressing support for the eight detained conservationists. Will you add your name to the petition and join the call for a fair trial or — better yet — releasing the scientists altogether? Thank you,   Kelsey B. The Care2 Petitions Team P.S. These eight people and the ninth who died in custody did invaluable conservationist work and for that they are facing the death penalty. Will you add your name to urge Iran to give them a fair trial?