NASA Scientist, U.S. citizen, Serkan Golge who was wrongly accused of participating in the attempted coup in Turkey, was released from prison recently, but is still required to wear an ankle monitor and report to the police four days a week. His charges were never dropped, his passport was not returned, and he is not free to leave Turkey. CCS is writing to Congressmen Lankford, Wicker, Cardin, Tillis, Rubio and Hastings requesting their continued help in bringing Dr. Golge back home to the United States.
*Cardin’s letter was posted, but each of the Congressmen received the same letter.
August 15, 2019
The Honorable Senator Ben L. Cardin
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Cardin:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for our colleagues all over the world.
We are writing at this time in regard to Serkan Golge who we believe you will recall is a U.S. citizen, NASA physicist, who in summer 2016 was arrested in Turkey while visiting his family. He was charged with participating in the attempted coup d’état (charges he always denied) and sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, later commuted to 5 years.
With your help and persistence, Dr. Golge was recently released from prison. However, this took his case only halfway to resolution. The charges were not dropped, his passport was not returned and he is not free to leave Turkey. He is required to wear an ankle monitor and report to the police four days a week.
Golge’s American dream was decimated when Turkish government decided to use him as a bargaining chip in the negotiations with the United States. He lost his job at NASA and his house in Houston. He wants to clear his name and have the charges dropped. He would very much like to return to the United States and resume his job with NASA.
You were very effective previously in helping Dr. Golge be released from prison. We are now asking you to do for Dr. Golge what was done for Pastor Brunson. Some of you, addressed in this letter, introduced a Bill requiring the return of unjustly detained American citizens. We need that Bill to be passed and pressure put on the Turkish government for the return of Serkan Golge.
Gratefully,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
cc:
David M. Satterfield
U.S. Ambassador-Designate
U.S. Embassy Ankara
Kavaklıdere, 06100
Ankara, Turkey
Everett Price
Helsinki Commission
234 Ford House Office Building
441 Second Street, SW
Washington, DC 200115