Encouraged by China's recent release of Chen Kegui and Guo Yushan, CCS calls upon both Presidents to facilitate the release of Chinese Human Rights attorneys, Uighur Professor Ilham Tohti and others. ... Continue Reading>>
New York City Bar Association Writes President of China Addressing Arrests of Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
The President of the New York City Bar Association sends a letter requesting the release of the myriad of human rights attorneys who have recently been arrested in China. Download the NY Bar Assn Letter on Chinese Attorneys ... Continue Reading>>
Nephew of Chinese Lawyer and Activist Chen Released from Prison
The nephew of the blind lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng, who was arrested following his uncle's escape from illegal detention, was released from prison on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Chen Kegui was released after serving a three-year, three-month sentence that was widely seen as retribution for his uncle's daring escape from house arrest. Chen said in an email from the United States that ... Continue Reading>>
Good News: Beijing Releases Chinese Scholar Who Helped Lawyer-Activist Chen Flee
Guo Yushan, the Chinese scholar who assisted the lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng flee from illegal detention was released from prison on September 14, 2015, according to his lawyer, Li Jin. Jin said that she did not know why Guo was released or if there was any link to Xi Jinping's United States visit. Related articles Beijing releases activist on eve of Chinese president's visit to US ... Continue Reading>>
China Arrests Two Human Rights Lawyers on Unspecified Charges
The Chinese Government arrested Li Heping, attorney for Chen Guangcheng, and Wang Yu, attorney for Ilham Tohti, for, as yet, unspecified charges. A general arrest of more than 225 Human Rights attorneys took place in China in mid-Spring this year. Many were detained, questioned, and some released. Li Heping and Wang Yu have not been released and their whereabouts are undisclosed. It is reported ... Continue Reading>>
Activist Jailed in China and Denied Access to Counsel
Guo Yushan, a scholar and public intellectual who founded a public policy think tank in China, was arrested on January 3, 2014 for "operating an illegal business," although the government has not formally charged him with this crime. He was denied access to counsel for three months after his arrest, and his defense lawyer has also been detained. CCS urges President Xi Jinping to investigate ... Continue Reading>>
2014 Annual Report
During 2014, the Committee of Concerned Scientists continued to advocate on behalf of scientists, academics, engineers and physicians. We wrote in concern for more than 30 individuals or groups of individuals, located in 11 countries. We generally addressed our letters to the heads of state, as well as to the ministries or local authorities with jurisdiction over the case when we were able to ... Continue Reading>>
Seven Students Reportedly Convicted on Separatism Charges in China
View image | gettyimages.com Seven students of Professor Ilham Tohti's have reportedly been sentenced to three to eight years in prison in China on charges of separatism. They were arrested at the same time that Tohti was, and CCS is concerned that some of the students were coerced into testifying against Professor Tohti in order to receive lighter sentences. President Xi Jinping The State ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Joins International Outcry
At Life Sentence for Ilham Tohti
After a two-day trial closed to the public, Professor Ilham Tohti, an advocate for China’s Uighur minority, was sentenced to life in prison for “separatism,” a charge he denies. In addition, the court ordered all of his assets confiscated, leaving his family in severe economic distress. The trial appears to have denied him an opportunity for proper defense, according to his lawyers, and to be ... Continue Reading>>
Ilham Tohti, Arrested in January
Now Charged with Separatism
On July 30, prosecutors announced online that Ilham Tohti, a professor at Central Minorities University in Beijing, had been formally charged with separatism, a crime which carries a potential death penalty. Tohti, an economics professor of economics and advocate for the rights of the Chinese Uighur minority, was arrested on January 15, 2014 and held incommunicado until late June. Tohti's ... Continue Reading>>