Committee of Concerned Scientists
We are scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of colleagues around the world.
In a letter to the eminent scientist Stephen Hawking, the co-chairs' of the Committee of Concerned Scientists expressed concern on behalf of CCS that Hawking has publicly endorsed the movement for "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)" directed against Israel and that he has declined an invitation to the June Israeli Presidential Conference in support of the BDS boycott. CCS has … continue reading >>
In his talk at the New School on February 6, 2013 (see our posting summarizing that event), the blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng expressed great concern about the arrest and sentencing of his nephew, Chen Kegui, by local authorities in home Chen's province. He believes that attacks on Chen's family members and unfair trial and sentencing of his nephew were actions taken in retaliation for … continue reading >>
Professor Abdolreza Ghanbari completed a PhD in Persian language and literature and has taught this subject in high schools and at Payame Nour University. We understand that his only political activity was to belong to a trade union that had been dissolved in 2007. Ghanbari was sentenced to death on January 30, 2010 on charges of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) for allegedly participating … continue reading >>
According to a recent article in the publication Nature, Omid Kokabee, the Iranian graduate student in physics at the University of Texas/Austin who is in jail in Teheran, released two open letters in which he states that Iranian authorities pressured him to participate in military projects possibly of involving nuclear weapons, and that his imprisonment and sentence are punishments for his … continue reading >>
Blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng, who is studying at NYU law school under asylum in the US, gave a talk on February 6, 2013, at the New School in New York City on “The Future of the Rule of Law and Human Rights in China.” CCS had advocated on behalf of granting asylum to Chen in 2012, when he fled from house arrest and mistreatment by Chinese authorities to the US Embassy in Beijing. … continue reading >>
CCS has received a number of complaints concerning imprisonment and prosecution of Turkish academics that seem to lack due process and regard for freedom of expression in each case. Professors Haberal and Hilmioglu. still in jail and in ill health, have been threatened with life sentences. Pinar Selek, a writer and scholar, was imprisoned, tortured and sentenced in absentia to aggravated life … continue reading >>
US Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. commented on the Turkish court system during an interview with Turkish journalists this week. He specifically mentioned the Kemal Gürüz case. See the last four paragraphs of the following article: Turkey, US to step up legal case against terror (Hurriyet Daily News) As reported in the Hurriyet Daily News, "Ricciardone criticized the fact that in … continue reading >>
On the second anniversary of the arrest of Omid Kokabee, Iranian physics graduate student at Texas University/Austin, CCS conveys to Iranian authorities the world-wide concern expressed about a ten-year prison sentence for Kokabee. Although charges of espionage were neither substantiated or defended by counsel in a fair trial, this severe sentence has been upheld by an Iranian appeals court. … continue reading >>
Summaries of 2012 Cases During 2012, the Committee of Concerned Scientists continued to advocate on behalf of scientists, academics, engineers and physicians. We wrote in concern for more than 23 individuals or groups of individuals, located in 9 countries. We generally addressed our letters (available in full on our website, concernedscientists.org) to the heads of state, as well as to the … continue reading >>
An Egyptian computer science graduate and blogger, Alber Saber, downloaded a video considered offensive to Muslims. When neighbors threatened him and his family, Cairo police responded by searching his computer and arresting him for blasphemy. A court sentenced Saber to three years in jail. CCS protested the failure to respect his right of expression and the continued lack of police protection for … continue reading >>
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In July, we protested the arrest of one of Turkey’s most prominent academic reformers, Kemal Gürüz, who was arrested and jailed for the second … continue reading >>
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