Sherry Chen, an employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was notified that she was being investigated by the Justice Department for spying for China in October 2014. The investigation cleared her but she was never reinstated, and was eventually fired from her position with the Weather Service for NOAA. CCS has written on behalf of Ms. Chen in the past and is now sending ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Human Rights Attorneys Charged with “Subversion of State Power”
Wang Yu and Li Heping are human rights attorneys in China who have defended scholars and academics whom CCS has also advocated for. Both attorneys were detained in 2015 and have been held incommunicado for almost a year. They have both, now, been charged with "subversion of state power". The charge could carry as much as a life sentence in a Chinese prison. CCS has written on behalf of these ... Continue Reading>>
Iranian Physicist and Human Rights Activist Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison
Narges Mohammadi, a prominent activist, has spoken out against the use of the death penalty in Iran. She has also advocated for the rights of women. For these, she has now been sentenced to 16 years in Evin Prison in Iran. CCS has written requesting her immediate release and that she be given adequate medical care for seriously deteriorating medical issues. Embed from Getty ... Continue Reading>>
Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith Held by the United Arab Emirates for Criticizing UAE and Egypt
Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, a U.S.-educated economist, was detained in the UAE and has been held for criticizing Egypt and the UAE online. He has been held since August 2015 in an unknown location. CCS has written several times on bin Ghaith’s behalf. His trial will start on June 28th. June 6, 2016 HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister Prime Minister’s ... Continue Reading>>
Lecturer and Fulbright Scholar in Pakistan Charged with Blasphemy, Lawyer Murdered
Junaid Hafeez, a lecturer of English Literature at Bahauddin Zakariya University, respected writer and scholar, has been jailed for the past three years and charged with blasphemy. The charge carries the possibility of a death sentence. During the trial his attorney was threatened by the prosecutor in open court; and was actually murdered. Hafeez’ new lawyer has requested the trial be moved to a ... Continue Reading>>
Iranian Government Grants Temporary Release to Jailed Physics Student
Omid Kokabee has been granted bail to recuperate at home following cancer surgery involving the removal of a cancerous kidney and other medical problems. Kokabee has been in prison in Iran for more than 5 years. Related articles Jailed Iranian Physics Student Released on Bail (nature.com) ... Continue Reading>>
Amnesty International Call to Action for Omid Kokabee
The Committee of Concerned Scientists joins with Amnesty International in calling for a letter-writing campaign in support of Omid Kokabee. Kokabee, a Ph.D. student in Physics at the University of Texas, Austin, was arrested when he went home to visit his family for refusing to work on Iranian military projects. He has been in prison in Iran for the past five years and was recently diagnosed ... Continue Reading>>
A Petition in Support of Turkish Academics Facing Job Loss and Arrest
Please support Turkish academics who have been terminated from their positions and arrested for signing a petition to encourage a peaceful handling of the Kurdish population. Our Previous Activities CCS Turkish Archive Hundreds of Turkish academics face prison terms and expulsion from their universities for exercising their freedom of speech. We appeal to academics of all countries to stand ... Continue Reading>>
Palestinian Astro-Physicist Detained at Israeli Checkpoint for a Second Time
Imad al-Barghouthi, Astrophysicist and Professor at al-Quds University has been detained for a second time at a checkpoint in Israel. No charges were filed. Professor Barghouthi is an Astrophysicist and founder of the Arab Union of Astronomy and Science. He obtained his doctorate at the University of Utah and worked at the US space agency before returning to Jerusalem. In December 2014 he was ... Continue Reading>>
Wife of Jailed Uyghur Scholar Faces Severe Hardship
Embed from Getty Images The wife of Ilham Tohti, an Economics Professor and an advocate for the Uyghur community in China, is facing a life sentence for speaking out for Uyghur rights in a peaceful way. She is also facing severe financial hardship. Related Articles Family of Jailed Uyghur Scholar Faces Severe Hardship, Social Isolation ... Continue Reading>>