Dr. Sirous Asgari, Material Science and Engineering professor based in Ohio was arrested of charges involving US sanctions against Iran. He was acquitted in November but now remains in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a holding facility in Louisiana. His health is threatened as Louisiana is a high risk area and individuals and staff have been a considerable threat for virus ... Continue Reading>>
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Turkish Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist and Former Rector Acquitted
Dr. Murat Tuncer, a pediatric oncologist and former rector of Hacettepe University, was acquitted on March 19, 2020. He is internationally respected for his academic activities and contribution to cancer research. Dr. Tuncer was in charge of the collaboration between Turkey’s Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and was ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Government Plans Large Prisoner Release, Excludes Political Prisoners
The Turkish government is planning a release of almost 90,000 prisoners due to the escalation of Covid-19 in Turkey which would seriously affect the inmate population, and also would serve to reduce the extreme overcrowding In Turkish jails. However, political prisoners, who include professors, opposition party members, civil servants, judges, attorneys, journalists, human rights activists, and ... Continue Reading>>
Academic for Peace Petitioners’ Status
Many of the Academics for Peace signees have gone to court with the following outcomes: Constitutional Court Cases The Court upheld the objection of the ten defendants and declared that the petition was legitimately within the domain of freedom of speech on July 26, 2019 Fusun Ustel Ibrahim Garip Yasemin Gulsum Acar Ayda Rona Aylin Altinay Cingoz Melda Tuncay Izzeddin Onder Canan ... Continue Reading>>
Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian Human Rights Lawyer, Writes A Plea for Peace from Evin Prison , on International Women’s Day
Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian human rights lawyer was sentenced in 2018 to a total of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes for a variety of offenses, including 12 years for “promoting immorality and indecency.” Her legal work has included litigation opposing death sentences and the imprisonment of girls, as young as 9, for not wearing a hijab. She was first jailed for this work in 2010, and then in ... Continue Reading>>
Trial Set to Begin in Iran For French Academic
French Anthropologist remains in jail awaiting trial. Her partner has now been released and the charges against her have diminished, with one being dropped. ... Continue Reading>>
Academic Dismissed from Position for Criticizing China’s Political System
Chau Pui-yi, a lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences was dismissed for posting criticism of China’s political system and for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. CCS wrote the University President requesting he review the case and reinstate the lecturer. ... Continue Reading>>
Professor of Literary Criticism Suspended Without Pay in South Sudan for Differing With Government Policies
Taban Lo Liyong, a professor of literary criticism was suspended without pay for writing an article in which he differed with the government’s position regarding establishment of 32 new states to replace the current 10 states, noting that it would be inequitable and unconstitutional. CCS wrote to the University’s Vice Chancellor requesting a review of the case and to support Liyong’s right to ... Continue Reading>>
Academic and Girlfriend Arrested in China for Subversion
Xu Zhiyong, former law lecturer arrested in February for attendance at a meeting of human rights advocates. CCS writes President of China requesting review of the situation. ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Suggests Iran Free Ahmadreza Djalali to Work on Coronavirus Problem
March 18, 2020 Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran c/o Majid Takht-Revanche, Ambassador Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations 622 Third Avenue, 34th Floor, P.O. Box: 20432 New York, NY 10017 Email: mailto:iran@un.int, Fax: 212-687-2020 Your Excellency Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: The Committee of Concerned Scientists is ... Continue Reading>>