Committee of Concerned Scientists

An international non-profit organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of our colleagues around the world.

An independent non-profit organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of our colleagues around the world.

Palestinian Astro-Physicist Detained at Israeli Checkpoint for a Second Time

Imad Barghouthi

Imad Barghouthi

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 stopped on his way to a professional conference by Israeli authorities and informed that he would be detained for three months based on an administrative report. Appearing for a hearing on the matter the Judge, after reviewing a letter from CCS, immediately dismissed the charges. Professor Barghouthi, was recently arrested at an Israeli checkpoint northwest of Ramallah on April 24th and informed that he would again be administratively detained for four months. He will return to court on May 8th for an initial hearing.

CCS has sent the following letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu requesting he either be charged or released.

May 7, 2015

Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
Prime Minister’s Office
3 Kaplan St. Hakirya
Jerusalem 91950, Israel

Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu:

We are writing, again, in concern for Professor Imad al-Barghouthi. Professor Barghouthi of al-Quds University 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.

Barghouthi was arrested on December 6, 2014 by Israeli authorities at the Karama border as he was on his way to the United Arab Emirates to attend the 11th Arab Astronomy Congress. He was informed that he would be detained administratively for three months. When Professor al-Barghouthi came to court for a hearing appealing his detention the Judge ordered his immediate release.

On April 24th of this year, Barghouthi was again detained at the Nabi Saleh checkpoint northwest of Ramallah. He was informed that he would be administratively detained for four months. No charges were, again, provided.

Barghouthi’s detention without any accusation of wrongdoing is a serious violation of his human rights. We urge you to immediately order the release of Imad al-Barghouthi or bring charges against him. Doing neither greatly undercuts Israel’s desire to have its scientists treated properly in other countries and greatly tarnishes Israel’s image.

Sincerely,

Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer

Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

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Who We Are

Co-chairs

Joel L. Lebowitz, Rutgers University

Paul H. Plotz, M.D., Washington, DC

Walter Reich, George Washington University

Eugene Chudnovsky, Lehman College

Alexander Greer, Brooklyn College

Vice-chairs

Astronomy – Arno Penzias, New Enterprises Associates*

Biology – Max E. Gottesman, Columbia University

Chemistry – Zafra Lerman, MIMSAD Inc.

Computer Science – Rachelle Heller, The George Washington University

Computer Science – Jack Minker, University of Maryland, College Park

Engineering – Philip Sarachik, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering

Mathematics – Simon Levin, Princeton University

Medical Sciences – J. Joseph Blum, Duke University

Honorary Board Members

Nancy Andrews, Duke University

David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology*

Alan J. Bard, University of Texas

Jacob Bigeleisen (deceased), SUNY, Stony Brook

Raoul Bott (deceased), Harvard University

Owen Chamberlain (deceased), University of California, Berkeley

Stanley Deser, Brandeis University

Edward Gerjuoy, University of Pittsburg

David Gross, (2004 Nobel Prize in Physics), Kavil Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara*

Pierre Hohenberg (deceased), New York University

Walter Kohn (deceased), University of California, Santa Barbara*

James Langer, University of California, Santa Barbara

Peter Lax, New York University

Louis Nirenberg, New York University

Marshall Nirenberg (deceased), National Institutes of Health*

Honorary Board Members

John C. Polanyi, University of Toronto*

Stuart Rice, University of Chicago

Sir Richard J. Roberts, (1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine), New England Biolabs*

Myriam Sarachick, City College of New York

Harold Scheraga, Cornell University

Sylvan Schweber (deceased), Brandeis University

Maxine Singer, Carnegie Institution of Washington

Alfred I. Tauber, Boston University

Steven Weinberg, University of Texas, Austin*

Myrna Weissman, Columbia University

Rosalyn S. Yalow (deceased), Mount Sinai School of Medicine*

* Nobel laureate

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Carol Valoris, Executive Director
(202) 812-8074
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