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.
You are here: Home / CCS Cases / Turkey / Betul Tanbay, Professor of Mathematics at Bogazici University and Vice President-Elect of the European Mathematical Society and Turgut Tarhanli, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Istanbul Bilgi University, Among 13 Prominent Academics, Journalists and Activists Detained on November 15, 2018 By Turkish Authorities

Betul Tanbay, Professor of Mathematics at Bogazici University and Vice President-Elect of the European Mathematical Society and Turgut Tarhanli, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Istanbul Bilgi University, Among 13 Prominent Academics, Journalists and Activists Detained on November 15, 2018 By Turkish Authorities

On November 15, 2018, Drs. Tanbay and Tarhanli, were among 13 prominent professionals arrested in Turkey. They were questioned regarding their links to the Anatolia Culture Association. The group was accused of trying to bring down the government due to their involvement in a series of large anti-government demonstration that took place in Istanbul’s Gezi Park in 2013. Twelve of those detained were released but have been put on a travel ban. It has not been disclosed if charges will be filed. CCS is concerned about the use of travel restrictions and the use of detention against citizens in retaliation for involvement in non-violent expressions of their opinions and rights to freedom of expression and association. Turkey is a signatory on international human rights agreements which protects citizens against such behavior and assures their rights to freedom of expression, association and due process.

The American and European Mathematical Associations have protested to the Turkish government on behalf of Dr. Tanbay demanding her immediate release. (Update Note: Dr. Tanbay has been released but the future of this action is unknown.)

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