As many are aware, on June 15 there was a coup attempt in Turkey. The Committee of Concerned Scientists has denounced the attempt by the Turkish military to seize power from the democratically elected leaders. As an organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars, dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of colleagues around the world, we also are greatly ... Continue Reading>>
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Academic Community Severely Affected by Actions of Turkish Government Following Attempted Coup
Despite their lack of involvement and their opposition to any coup in Turkey, academics in Turkey have been severely affected by the actions of the Turkish government - universities shut down, staff suspended and terminated from their positions and some detained and arrested. Due process has not been followed and guilt or innocence doesn’t appear to make a difference in actions taken. CCS would ... Continue Reading>>
Wang Yu, Human Rights Attorney Awaiting Trial in China, Receiving ABA Award
American Bar Association earlier this month announced it is giving the organization’s first ever “International Human Rights Award” to Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Yu. CCS has advocated for Wang Yu’s release since she was detained in June 2015. Wang Yu and other human rights attorney’s were picked up by authorities a year ago and detained with no charges in undetermined places. Recently, ... Continue Reading>>
Academics and Scientists Severely Affected by Attempted Coup in Turkey
On July 15, 2016 a fraction of the Turkish military attempted to seize power from democratically elected leaders. Turkish citizens went to the streets and protested en masse. The democracy was saved but two hundred innocent people had died and over a thousand were injured. The Turkish government declared a state of emergency and began purging Turkish institutions from elements allegedly ... Continue Reading>>
Angolan Professor Arrested for Peaceful Activism
Dr. Domingos Da Cruz, an Angolan Professor of Law and Human Rights at the Universidade Independente de Angola was arrested on June 21, 2015 and charged with preparatory acts of rebellion and association with criminals (the other 13 activists who were also arrested the previous day). After being held for six months, and then released on house arrest for another four months, the case came to trial ... Continue Reading>>
URGENT ACTION: Tweet Storm in Support of Physicist and Human Rights Activist Narges Mohammadi
CCS requests that you participate in this campaign. On 11 July, Narges Mohammadi enters her third week of hunger strike, which she began on Monday 27 June to protest the judicial authorities’ persistent refusal to allow her telephone contact with her nine-year-old twins. Her children had to move abroad one year ago to live with their father, as there was nobody to look after them in Iran ... Continue Reading>>
Sebnem Korur Fincanci and Colleagues Released, but Charges Not Dropped
Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, President of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and professor at Istanbul University, has been released from prison, along with her two colleagues. However, the charges against them have not been dropped. These charges could result in 14 years in prison. CCS has requested that the Turkish authorities drop all charges against Dr. Fincanci and her ... Continue Reading>>
Turkey Continues to Question, Detain, Arrest, and Terminate Employment of Academics That Signed Peace Petition
To date, the Turkish authorities have terminated the employment, requested resignations, failed to renew contracts or sent files to the Higher Educational Council of 91 Turkish academics. 513 face disciplinary action resulting in temporary suspensions, and legal process have been initiated against 418. The numbers are continually growing. CCS has written to the Turkish authorities requesting ... Continue Reading>>
Homa Hoodfar, Canadian and Iranian Citizen, Jailed in Evin Prison
Dr. Homa Hoodfar, a Canadian and Iranian citizen, was arrested on June 6 and has been held in Evin Prison. She has not been able to contact her family or an attorney. Dr. Hoodfar, a Professor of Social Anthropology, was arrested in June after three months of questioning. She was in Iran visiting family and doing research on the political role of women in Iran historically. Being in isolation opens ... Continue Reading>>
Professor and President of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Arrested
Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, professor and head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Istanbul University was arrested on June 20 and charged with “terror propaganda” along with two other prominent writers, Erol Onderoglu and Ahmet Nesin. The arrests seem to have been triggered in response to their participating as “on-duty editor-in-chief” of the newspaper Ozgur Gundem, a pro-Kurdish ... Continue Reading>>