More than 40 academic colleagues of political science professor Emad el-Din Shahin signed an open letter of protest against an Egyptian court's death sentence, handed down in a mass trial that lacked all elements of due process. CCS joined what appeared to be retaliation for Shahin's pro-democracy stance. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi Arab Republic of Egypt c/o Embassy of Egypt to the United ... 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>>
Professors Arrested in Egypt
According to news reports, Professors Mostafa Zidan and Magdy Khalifa were arrested in Egypt on charges of belonging to the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Both academics are on hunger strikes in protest of their conditions, including ill treatment and harsh conditions. The allegation of harsh treatment and the resulting hunger strikes seem to imply that rights have not been granted, rights which ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Protests Lack of Due Process In
Long Detention of Former Morsi Official
Khaled al-Quzzaz, an engineer and educator, was foreign relations secretary to former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. After Morsi was deposed by the Egyptian military, al-Quazzaz was arrested. He has been imprisoned in maximum security for over a year, over half of that in solitary confinement. We asked for the Egyptian government to provide him with due process, a fair trial and access to ... Continue Reading>>
Egyptian’s Criticism of NGOs Guilty Verdict
Leads to Charging Him of Insulting Judiciary
Dr. Amr Hamzawy, a professor of political science at Cairo University and of public policy at the American University in Cairo, faces criminal charges in Egypt for expressing his opinions on Twitter. He wrote that he found shocking and obviously political a verdict against 43 employees of Western-based civil society groups. The employees were found guilty of "receiving illegal funds" and ... Continue Reading>>
Downloading an Offensive Video Shouldn't Result in Sentence for Egyptian Blogger
An Egyptian computer science graduate and blogger, Alber Saber, downloaded a video considered offensive to Muslims. When neighbors threatened him and his family, Cairo police responded by searching his computer and arresting him for blasphemy. A court sentenced Saber to three years in jail. CCS protested the failure to respect his right of expression and the continued lack of police protection for ... Continue Reading>>
Downloading an Offensive Video Shouldn’t Result in Sentence for Egyptian Blogger
An Egyptian computer science graduate and blogger, Alber Saber, downloaded a video considered offensive to Muslims. When neighbors threatened him and his family, Cairo police responded by searching his computer and arresting him for blasphemy. A court sentenced Saber to three years in jail. CCS protested the failure to respect his right of expression and the continued lack of police protection for ... Continue Reading>>
Second Israeli professor denied visa to Egypt
University of Haifa’s Rector Jossi Ben Artzi was recently denied an Egyptian visa. Professor Ben Artzi’s request for a visa to attend the Euro-Mediterranean University’s convention on June 11 and 12 in Alexandria was denied without any explanation. The Euro-Mediterranean University's Rector, Professor Joseph Mifsud, reportedly sent a letter of protest to Egypt's authorities. ... Continue Reading>>
Israeli professor denied visa to Egypt
Professor Uri Seligsohn has been denied a visa to Egypt. Dr. Seligsohn, a professor of hematology and director of the Amalia Biron Research Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis at Tel Aviv University, has been banned from attending the 56th Scientific and Standardization Committee meeting in Cairo of the International society on Thrombosis and Homeostasis. ... Continue Reading>>
Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim
Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim's sentence to two years hard labor for "defaming Egypt"--based on his criticism of President Mubarak's poor human rights record--was overturned in May 2009, just before President Obama's state visit to Cairo. For the second time, CCS and others advocated on behalf of the eminent sociologist, who founded the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies in Cairo. ... Continue Reading>>