In July of 2016 during a family vacation, NASA scientist, Dr. Serkan Golge, was arrested in Turkey as he and his family were preparing to return to the United States. He was accused of being affiliated with "FETO," the organization that was suspected, by the President of Turkey, of planning the failed coup attempt that took place on July 15th. Dr. Golge vehemently denied this charge. Since his ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
A Very Merry Happy 85th Birthday to Our Very Dear Advisory Board Member, Myriam Sarachik
Myriam Sarachik, famous for her pioneering experiments on the Kondo effect, metal-insulator transitions and spin tunneling, turns 85. She has been an invaluable, long-time CCS Board Member devoted to the human rights of scientists. I encourage everybody to read Myriam’s short autobiography: Pushing Boundaries: My Personal and Scientific Journey. Deeply personal, it encompasses great events that ... Continue Reading>>
Dr. Hatoon Al-Fassi, Associate Professor of Women’s History at King Saud University, Detained for Unknown Reasons
Dr. Hatoon Al-Fassi an Associate Professor of Women’s History at King Saud University and a renowned women’s rights activist has been detained. The reasons for her arrest have not been determined. She is also on a travel ban for unknown reasons. She has not been notified of any charges, a court date and no one has been informed of her whereabouts nor whether she has access to counsel. CCS has ... Continue Reading>>
Prominent Chinese Brain Scientist Denied Visa to Attend U.S. Professional Conference
Dr. Rao Yi, a prominent Chinese brain scientist, who studied in the United States, got his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, San Francisco; his postdoc at Harvard; was on the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis; was a full professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago was denied a visa to attend a conference sponsored by the National ... Continue Reading>>
Professor of Epidemiology, Co-Spokesperson for Peoples’ Democratic Congress, Physician and Active Member of the Turkish Medical Association, Charged with “Making Terrorist Propaganda on Social Media.”
On February 9, 2018 Professor Onur Hamzaoglu was detained, and arrested on February 17. He remains in Sincan Prison in Ankara. In Court on February 16th he was denied bail. His trial is scheduled for July 19th. Hamzaoglu is a professor, medical doctor, active member of the Turkish Medical Association, editor of the Medical Association’s monthly journal and has been a member of the ... Continue Reading>>
Uighur Doctoral Student Disappears; Family Concerned She Is In Re-Education Camp
Guligeina Tashimaimaiti, a Uighur Ph.D. student, writer and scholar returned from a trip to Malaysia on December 26, 2017 and her family has not seen nor heard from her since. CCS has written the Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region requesting her release and her safety. July 7, 2018 Chen Quanguo Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region 479 Zhongshan ... Continue Reading>>
Oxford Doctoral Student Arrested in Iran for Unspecified Reasons
Mohammadreza Jalaleipour, a 34-year-old Ph.D. Student at Oxford University was arrested in Iran on April 18, 2018. He has had brief phone calls to his family, and no access to an attorney. The cause is unknown at this time. In 2009 Jalaeipour was detained for several months following the presidential election but was never prosecuted. Of concern is that Jalaleipour’s father is a member of the ... Continue Reading>>
Economics Professor Sentenced to Life in Prison in Turkey – Released Awaiting Appeal
Mehmet Altan, a professor of Economics at Istanbul University (where he had taught for over 30 years) and a prolific writer, was convicted, along with his brother, Ahmet, and a journalist, Nazli Ilicak for their alleged involvement in a 2016 failed military coup in Turkey. It is alleged that they sent “subliminal messages” regarding the failed coup attempt while on a television show. It seems, ... Continue Reading>>
Doctoral Student, Walid Salem, arrested in Egypt While Doing Research
Walid Salem, an Egyptian Doctoral student, studying in the United States at the University of Washington, was in Egypt working on research for his degree when he was arrested in Cairo. He was charged with spreading false news and belonging to a terrorist group. His arrest occurred after interviewing a well-known college professor about judicial independence. It appears that he is being ... Continue Reading>>
Human Rights Groups Write United Nations Rapporteurs Requesting Review of Djalali Case
Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali is still sentenced to death in Iran for espionage, according to the Iranian authorities. Many human rights organizations have written directly to the Ayatollah and the President requesting dismissal of his case and his release. Many have now requested the United Nations Special Rapporteurs intercede on his behalf and at a minimum dismiss the death sentence he faces. CCS’ ... Continue Reading>>