Khalil al-Halwachi, a Bahrainian engineer and human rights activist, was detained in September 2014 and has been confined since that time to date. It is alleged that the authorities came to his home and searched, finding a rifle (that was allegedly planted by those doing the search) which led to allegations of his being a terrorist. Al-Halwachi has been in prison since, in conditions that led to ... Continue Reading>>
Retired Tehran University Professor Receiving Necessary Medical Care
Dr. Mohammed Hosein Rafiee-Fanood, a retired professor of chemistry who has been imprisoned in Iran for peacefully expressing his political views, was operated on to repair varicose veins. He will also be examined for much needed other health problems. CCS has written many letters on his behalf requesting that he receive the medical care that he so desperately needed and we are very pleased that ... Continue Reading>>
Omid Kokabee Released on Parole
Physicist Omid Kokabee, whose arrest and imprisonment in Iran galvanized the academic community for more than five years, has been granted parole by the Iranian court. Kokabee was born in Iran in 1982. At age 18 he was recognized for his extraordinary intellectual power in Iran’s nationwide college entrance exams. He graduated with degrees in Applied Physics and Mechanical Engineering from ... Continue Reading>>
NASA Scientist, Serkan Golge, Arrested Post‑Coup in Turkey
NASA scientist Serkan Golge, who has been employed as a senior research scientist with the American space program, was arrested in Turkey following the failed coup attempt and charged with espionage. He has been researching the health effects of time spent in space on the human body. The Committee of Concerned Scientists has been making inquiries in an attempt to have him released and to have ... Continue Reading>>
Academic Community Severely Affected by Actions of Turkish Government Following Attempted Coup
Despite their lack of involvement and their opposition to any coup in Turkey, academics in Turkey have been severely affected by the actions of the Turkish government - universities shut down, staff suspended and terminated from their positions and some detained and arrested. Due process has not been followed and guilt or innocence doesn’t appear to make a difference in actions taken. CCS would ... Continue Reading>>
Professor and President of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Arrested
Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, professor and head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Istanbul University was arrested on June 20 and charged with “terror propaganda” along with two other prominent writers, Erol Onderoglu and Ahmet Nesin. The arrests seem to have been triggered in response to their participating as “on-duty editor-in-chief” of the newspaper Ozgur Gundem, a pro-Kurdish ... Continue Reading>>
Iranian Physicist and Human Rights Activist Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison
Narges Mohammadi, a prominent activist, has spoken out against the use of the death penalty in Iran. She has also advocated for the rights of women. For these, she has now been sentenced to 16 years in Evin Prison in Iran. CCS has written requesting her immediate release and that she be given adequate medical care for seriously deteriorating medical issues. Embed from Getty ... Continue Reading>>
Amnesty International Call to Action for Omid Kokabee
The Committee of Concerned Scientists joins with Amnesty International in calling for a letter-writing campaign in support of Omid Kokabee. Kokabee, a Ph.D. student in Physics at the University of Texas, Austin, was arrested when he went home to visit his family for refusing to work on Iranian military projects. He has been in prison in Iran for the past five years and was recently diagnosed ... Continue Reading>>
Palestinian Astro-Physicist Detained at Israeli Checkpoint for a Second Time
Imad al-Barghouthi, Astrophysicist and Professor at al-Quds University has been detained for a second time at a checkpoint in Israel. No charges were filed. Professor Barghouthi is an Astrophysicist and founder of the Arab Union of Astronomy and Science. He obtained his doctorate at the University of Utah and worked at the US space agency before returning to Jerusalem. In December 2014 he was ... Continue Reading>>
Scholars at Risk Letter Campaign for Omid Kokabee
Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of imprisoned Iranian doctoral student Omid Kokabee April 19, 2016 -- Scholars at Risk (SAR) is gravely concerned about recent reports of imprisoned doctoral student of physics Omid Kokabee's deteriorating health, specifically his distressing diagnosis of kidney cancer, and his reported lack of access to needed, regular medical care. SAR understands ... Continue Reading>>