One of the charges against Fariba Adelkhah, a French-Iranian researcher in Anthropology and Social Sciences, was dismissed - that of Espionage. Dr. Adelkhah was arrested in June 2019 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps for spying. They have also, according to her attorney, dismissed the charge “of disturbing the public order.” However, there are still two remaining charges - “spreading ... Continue Reading>>
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Cambridge Student Detained in South Sudan Pardoned and Released
Peter Biar Ajak, a Ph.D. student who was critical of his country’s government was arrested in July 2018 in South Sudan. He was sentenced to two years in prison. Mr. Ajak was one of the country’s “Lost Boys” who was resettled in America and had studied at Lasalle University in Philadelphia, then Harvard and then Cambridge. He returned to Sudan in July 2018 to participate in a youth conference ... Continue Reading>>
Ugandan Academic/Writer/Feminist Receives Award While Imprisoned
Dr. Stella Nyanzi, Ugandan academic, writer and feminist activist was awarded the Oxfam Novib/PEN International award for Freedom of Expression. Dr. Nyanzi remains in Luzira Women's Prison in Kampala, where she has been for the past 15 months for criticizing the President and his mother through her poetry. At the award ceremony, held in the Hague, an empty chair was used to symbolize her ... Continue Reading>>
Committee of Concerned Scientists’ Co-Chair Highlights Egregious Treatment Received by Female Scholars Behind Prison Walls in Iran
Greek Statistician Still Being Tried for Accurately Assessing Greece’s Budget Deficits
Andreas Georgiou, a well-respected economist and statistician, and former president of the Hellenic Statistical Authority, continues to be harassed and prosecuted for publishing, by all accounts, an accurate assessment of the Greek budget deficits. He has been tried multiple times, found innocent of the charges, or the charges were thrown out but another charge continued to be filed. ... Continue Reading>>
Pennsylvania Teacher Arrested in Egypt for Criticizing the Egyptian Government on Social Media While Visiting Family
Reem Mohamed Desouky, a teacher in Pennsylvania, was arrested in Egypt for criticizing the Egyptian government on social media. It is unclear if charges have been filed, but she is currently being detained in prison. CCS is writing the President of the United States requesting his involvement in freeing a U.S. citizen. ... Continue Reading>>
US Citizen, Physician, Imprisoned in Saudi Arabia Since 2017
Dr. Walid Fitaihi was arrested in 2017 and held without charges for 21 months. Initially, he was held at the Ritz Carlton hotel for the first three months and then transferred to a prison south of Riyadh. In January 2019, he was transferred to a different prison. Fitaihi is being tried on vague charges linked to his social media activity - criticizing the killing of peaceful protestors since ... Continue Reading>>
Iranian Physicist Imprisoned for 16-Year Sentence Tortured and Transferred to Strict Facility
Former Professor of Fatih University Sentenced to 9 Years In Prison – Still in Jail
Ahmet Metin Sekizkardes, a former journalist and professor of Fatih University was arrested in July 2016 on charges of being a member of an armed terrorist organization. He was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison and is still confined. The charges appear to be unsubstantiated. Fatih was one of the top private universities in Turkey and closed by the government after the failed coup ... Continue Reading>>
Former Rector of Turgut Ozal University Still In Jail After Three Years
Abdulkadir Sengun was the Rector and Professor of Turgut Ozal University. He was arrested following the July 16 attempted coup and charged with being a member of an armed terrorist organization. He was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. Turgut Ozal University was one of the schools that the current Turkish administration closed. His relationship to the school seems to be the basis for ... Continue Reading>>