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.

Political Science Professor, Former Member of Parliament Arrested in Ethiopia

Dr. Merera Gudina, a political science professor and former member of parliament and leader of the Oromo people in Ethiopia ha been arrested upon returning from a meeting of the European Parliament. He was tried on May 4, 2017 when his counsel objected to the charges but the prosecution denied the objection. On July 7 court is to announce its verdict.

Hailemariam Dessalegn
FDRE Prime Minister
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 11 122 6292

Your Excellency:

We are again writing on behalf of the Committee of Concerned Scientists, an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.

We are extremely concerned about the trial and sentencing of  Dr. Merera Gudina, a political science professor who is also a former Member of Parliament and a leader in asserting the political interests of the Oromo people of Ethiopia. He was arrested on November 30th upon his return to Ethiopia following a meeting at the European Parliament.  We believe he was detained because of his association at that meeting with Olympic marathon silver-medalist Feyisa Lilesa and Dr. Berhanu Nega, an opposition leader your government has designated a “terrorist”. He was tried on May 4, 2017 when his counsel submitted an objection to the charges brought against him.  The prosecution denied the objection.  Dr. Gudina and his counsel submitted another objection asking that the criminal charge against him be separated from the terrorism charge brought against his co-defendants.  On June 21st, the prosecution submitted a response asking the court to dismiss the objection.  The court is to announce its verdict on July 7th.

Ethiopia joined the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) over 20 years ago, and your government is thus obligated to protect citizens’ rights to free expression and association. It appears clear to us that our colleague Dr. Gudina has been arrested for peaceful political activity, and, unless strong evidence emerges to the contrary, we call on you to secure his immediate and unconditional release.

Sincerely,

Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

COPIES TO:
Ambassador Girma Birru
Embassy of Ethiopia
3506 International Dr. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 202 587 0195
Email: ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org

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

Committee of Concerned Scientists

c/o Alexandra R. Bender, Executive Director
P.O. Box 273
Mountainhome, PA 18342
Phone: (570) 994-2093
abender@concernedscientists.org