CCS has been informed that Serkan Golge is being held in Iskenderun Prison (the largest town in Hatay Province). He does not have access to an attorney. The US Consulate in Adana has been notified. ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Ilham Tohti, Peaceful Advocate for Uighur Community, Wins Martin Ennals Award; also a Finalist for Sakharov Prize
Ilham Tohti, a peaceful advocate of China’s Uighur community, currently serving a life sentence in a Chinese prison, was awarded the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders by a group of human rights organizations; Tohti was also a finalist for the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The Sakharov prize is awarded annually by the European Parliament to honor individuals and ... Continue Reading>>
Committee of Concerned Scientists and Endangered Scholars Worldwide Advocate for NASA Scientist Arrested in Turkey
NASA Physicist, Serkan Golge, a 36-year old American citizen, was arrested while visiting Turkey and charged as being complicit with the Gulen movement, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization that was complicit with the coup attempt that took place in July. The Committee of Concerned Scientists and Endangered Scholars Worldwide have issued a Joint Appeal asking for Golge’s release and ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Is Very Sad to Announce the Passing of One of Its Most Devoted Members: Vice Chair Joseph Birman
Joseph Birman, Vice-Chair of the Committee of Concerned Scientists and one of its longest serving Board members, CUNY Distinguished Professor of Physics, passed away at age 89 on October 1, 2016, with his wife Joan at his side. I met Joe in 1979 at the unofficial refuseniks’ science seminar in Moscow, held for scientists that where denied exit visas and subsequently lost their academic ... Continue Reading>>
59 Year Old Bahraini Engineer Imprisoned for Two Years With No Trial
Khalil al-Halwachi, a Bahrainian engineer arrested for alleged possession of a rifle and charged as a terrorist has sat in jail for the past two years and his trial has been postponed 18 times. Defendant alleges a forced confession after being tortured. CCS has written the US Ambassador to Bahrain requesting that a representative be present in the courtroom to assure due process for al-Halwachi. ... Continue Reading>>
Homa Hoodfar, Canadian and Iranian Citizen, Released from Evin Prison
Homa Hoodfar, a dual-citizen of Iran and Canada, and a retired professor of Sociology and Anthropology, has been released from Evin prison in Iran, where she was detained since her arrest in June. Professor Hoodfar was charged with “dabbling in feminism” while conducting a research project. In early July, CCS wrote on behalf of Professor Hoodfar requesting her immediate release and that she ... Continue Reading>>
Mohammad Hossein Rafiee Has Been Released on a Medical Furlough
CCS has been informed that retired Tehran University professor, Dr. Mohammad Hossein Rafiee, has been released from Evin Prison on a Medical Furlough due to poor health. He has been allowed to recuperate at his family’s home. We are all very grateful that he will have a chance for an effective recovery and be allowed to recover fully with appropriate medical care. We also are in support of the ... Continue Reading>>
Bahrainian Engineer Due in Court on September 19 Following Arrest 2 Years Ago
Khalil al-Halwachi, a Bahrainian engineer and human rights activist, was detained in September 2014 and has been confined since that time to date. It is alleged that the authorities came to his home and searched, finding a rifle (that was allegedly planted by those doing the search) which led to allegations of his being a terrorist. Al-Halwachi has been in prison since, in conditions that led to ... Continue Reading>>
Call for Solidarity: 44 Turkish Academics Who Signed the ‘Peace Petition’ Terminated from Their Jobs, Additionally, Over 2300 Turkish Academics Targeted Following Failed Coup
The academics who signed the Peace Petition prior to the coup attempt in Turkey have now been linked by the State with those who perpetrated the Coup. The signers noted they they had nothing to do with the coup, did not agree with it, did not participate in it and that their action well preceded the coup situation. Their petition was done in the open and sent to the authorities. It was not ... Continue Reading>>
Retired Tehran University Professor Receiving Necessary Medical Care
Dr. Mohammed Hosein Rafiee-Fanood, a retired professor of chemistry who has been imprisoned in Iran for peacefully expressing his political views, was operated on to repair varicose veins. He will also be examined for much needed other health problems. CCS has written many letters on his behalf requesting that he receive the medical care that he so desperately needed and we are very pleased that ... Continue Reading>>