Huang Qi, a computer engineer in China, has been detained since November 2016. He was arrested allegedly for his role as founder of a human rights focused website, 64 Tianwang. He established the website over 20 years ago but has been recently accused of “leaking state secrets.” He has not, as yet, been charged and legal documents have not been shared with Huang or his lawyer. He reports he is ... Continue Reading>>
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CCS Asks New Saudi King to Reconsider Badawi Case
Crown Prince Salman has become the new King of Saudi Arabia with a more progressive view of government and his country. With this in mind, the Committee of Concerned Scientists have approached the new King requesting that he review the Badawi case and consider dropping his charges and releasing him from confinement. The King’s views are much more in line with the views that Badawi was ... Continue Reading>>
2018 Sakharov Prize Winner Sends Speech to the American Physical Society Ceremony
Narges Mohammadi, the recipient of the 2018 Andrei Sakharov Prize, sent her acceptance speech to the Conference when it was awarded to her on April 15, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio by the American Physical Society. She was unable to attend, as she is still confined in an Iranian prison. Mohammadi was dismissed from her job and imprisoned for advocating for women's and human rights. Mohammadi has ... Continue Reading>>
Raif Badawi Awarded Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism by the Los Angeles Press Club
Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabian blogger, imprisoned since 2012 for "insulting Islam," will be recognized by the Los Angeles Press Club with the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism. His wife will accept this award for him on June 24. The Press Club President, Chris Palmeri, said the press club is demanding Badawi's immediate release. There is also new hope for Badawi as ... Continue Reading>>
Ahmadreza Djalali Writes Plea to Iranian International Deputy for Chief Justice Secretary of High Council for Human Rights
Dr. Djalali, a physician and academician in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, has written to Mohammad-Javad Larijani requesting that he review his case, review all of the documents presented, meet with the defense witnesses and withdraw the charge of "Seditious on Ground," and remove the death penalty that was handed down by Judge Salavati. The letter sent to Dr. Larijani follows: To the ... Continue Reading>>
The Situation Worsens In Turkey for Academics
Prior to the coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016, many academics in Turkish universities jointly signed a statement called "The Peace Petition," requesting the government end the violence and open the way to dialogue and a lasting peace. Shortly thereafter the attempted coup took place and there was a large round-up of suspected persons involved. The signors of the Peace Petition were thrown ... Continue Reading>>
Retired Turkish Professor, Dr. Ayse Erzan, Returns to Court on April 6
The Statement of the Defense to the Court by Dr. Ayse Erzan is published in its entirety in Bianet. She is being tried under charges of "terrorist propaganda" for signing the Peace Petition, requesting the government to end the violence and open the way to dialogue and a lasting peace. Originally, this statement was presented to the Court on February 21, 2018. The hearing was rescheduled for ... Continue Reading>>
Students Arrested at Bogazici University in Turkey: Sign Petition In Support of Students
On March 19th a group of students opened a stand giving out Turkish delight (distributed to honor the soul of someone who has recently deceased). This was to honor 46 soldiers who lost their lives in Afrin. A second group of students (anti-war students) protested by opening a banner in opposition. A quarrel allegedly started between the two and it was reported that the students' stand was ... Continue Reading>>
Ahmadreza Djalali, Swedish Physician/Lecturer, Sends Letter to President Rouhani Denying Guilt
To the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Hassan Rouhani, This is Ahmadreza Djalali, a researcher and lecturer affiliated to universities in Sweden, Italy and Belgium, who is detained in Iran by the Ministry of Intelligence since April 2016. Firstly, I was accused of having a relation with an enemy country, and then through an unjust, illegal, anti-Islamic and ... Continue Reading>>
The Science Academy of Turkey Issues Statement on Freedom of Speech and Science
The Bilim Akademisi, the Turkish Science Academy, issued a statement noting its concerns on the growing restraints on freedom of speech and freedom of science presently in Turkey. Their statement follows: The Science Academy Statement on Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Science, February 2018 The Science Academy sees it necessary to publicly express once again its concerns on the ... Continue Reading>>