Amir Attaran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amir Attaran is a Canadian lawyer, immunologist, and law professor.
Currently, Attaran is Associate Professor of Law and Population Health and the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Law, Population Health and Global Development Policy at the University of Ottawa.
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[edit] Early life and education
Attaran was born in California [1] to immigrants from Iran.
He earned a law degree from the University of British Columbia, and a D.Phil in immunology from the University of Oxford.
Attaran is a naturalized Canadian.
[edit] Advocacy
Attaran is extensively involved with the organization Africa Fighting Malaria, and has argued publicly for the renewed use of DDT in sub-Saharan Africa to eradicate mosquito populations and combat malaria.
In 2004, Attaran wrote an opinion piece with Shirin Ebadi, published in the New York Times, arguing that the World Bank should incorporate democratic principles in its funding criteria, and avoid funding dictatorships.
On September 9, 2005, he wrote another opinion piece in the Times criticizing the United Nations for not adopting quantifiable metrics for its Millennium Development Goals.
In February 2007, he received significant media coverage in Canada when he brought forward testimony by Afghan prisoners captured by Canadians and handed to the custody of the Afghan National Army, who said they had later been abused by the ANA. [2] [1] [3] (See also Canadian Afghan detainee abuse scandal.)
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Amir Attaran on the treatment of Afghan detainees", Globe and Mail, 9 March 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
- ^ Oziewicz, Estanislao. "Activist swamped by abusive messages", Globe and Mail, 9 February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
- ^ "Latest Afghan abuse claims spark cries for O'Connor to resign", CBC News, 23 April 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
