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>>
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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>>
Kavous Seyed Emami, an Iranian-Canadian Environmentalist, Dies in Tehran Prison
Kavous Seyed Emami, an environmentalist, professor of sociology at Tehran's Imam Sadegh University and Founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (Iran's most prominent non-governmental organization focussed on the environment) was arrested on January 24th by intelligence agents, along with several other environmental activists and charged with espionage. His wife received a phone ... Continue Reading>>
Ethiopian Opposition Leader Freed
Merera Gudina, leader of the Oromo Federalist Congress - government opposition party to the current administration, was released from prison on January 17, 2018. He was released with over 100 political prisoners held in a prison outside of Adis Ababa, and another 350 prisoners held elsewhere. Prime Minister Desalegn Hailemariam announced that jailed "politicians" would have their cases annulled ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Co-Chair Endorses Sanctions Against Turkish Officials Responsible for Arrests and Trials of U.S. Citizens
Following a failed coup attempt in July 2016 against the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, many Turkish citizens and visitors from other countries have been held as parties to this event. There was a round-up of tens of thousands of citizens who were considered parties to the failed coup. Several American dual citizens were arrested in this round-up, one being an employee of NASA, ... Continue Reading>>
Supreme Court of Iran Confirms Death Sentence of Djalali
The Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Ahmadreza Djalali. Iran has accused him of spying for Israel. Djalali was an emergency medicine professor residing in Sweden with his family. He was invited to present a training on emergency and disaster medicine in Iran, as he had done previously. On April 2016 he was arrested and charged with spying. On October 21 he was ... Continue Reading>>
NASA Scientist Imprisoned in Turkey Sentenced to 7.5 Years
Serkan Golge, the NASA scientist arrested and charged with being complicit in the attempted coup in Turkey, was sentenced today to 7.5 years in prison. In July 2016, Golge was accused of spying for the CIA, arrested and charged with terrorism. Golge has always denied any involvement in this event. Golge, his wife and two young sons were in Iran to visit family when the coup attempt took ... Continue Reading>>