Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of imprisoned Iranian doctoral student Omid Kokabee April 19, 2016 -- Scholars at Risk (SAR) is gravely concerned about recent reports of imprisoned doctoral student of physics Omid Kokabee's deteriorating health, specifically his distressing diagnosis of kidney cancer, and his reported lack of access to needed, regular medical care. SAR understands ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Public Support Solicited for Masaud Jahromi, Former Department Chair at Ahlia University
Dr. Jack Minker, CCS Vice Chair for Computer Science, has authored a letter to the editor in the May 2016 Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery (CACM) explaining Dr. Masaud Jahromi’s legal situation. Minker also requested assistance for job and residential placement. CCS has been advocating for Dr. Jahromi, former chair of the Telecommunications Engineering Department of ... Continue Reading>>
Scientist Dying in Prison for Refusing to Help Iran Develop Nuclear Weapons | Washington Examiner
Omid Kokabee’s fate is at the mercy of the Revolutionary Courts, who execute the will of the Supreme Leader, now that he has suffered kidney cancer and had his right kidney removed. Omid Kokabee was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer that required surgery to completely remove his right kidney. Kokabee has been in Evin Prison in Iran since 2011 for failing to cooperate with the Atomic Energy ... Continue Reading>>
EU Response to CCS Request to Help Obtain Release of Rafiee-Fanood
CCS wrote a letter to Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s High Representative, requesting assistance with obtaining the release of Dr. Mohammed Hosein Rafiee-Fanood, by bringing the matter to the attention of the President of Iran. A representative of her office responded to the letter. ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Academics Temporarily Released
The hearing for the four Turkish Academics arrested for having signed the Peace Petition was held on Friday, April 22nd. There was considerable support from government observers from other countries and supporters who attended a rally outside of the courthouse. The scholars were temporarily released pending trial/charges altered to lesser charge. The Court is attempting to scale back the charges ... Continue Reading>>
President Obama: Demand that Saudi Arabia Release Badawi and al-Qahtani
In light of the President’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia, CCS requests his assistance in the release of two prisoners: Mohammed al-Qahtani and Raif Badawi. Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Professor of Economics was sentenced in 2013 to 10 years in prison for speaking out for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. He co-founded the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, calling for Saudi Arabia to implement ... Continue Reading>>
Release Omid Kokabee from Prison
Omid Kokabee, a graduate student at University of Texas, Austin who has been in prison in Iran for over five years, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Surgery was performed on Tuesday, April 19th. CCS wrote Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, Attorney General of Iran, requesting Omid’s release so that he may recuperate at his family home upon discharge from the hospital. April 20, 2016 To: Mohammad ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Requests US Observer at Court Hearing for Turkish Professors
The first four academics who were arrested for signing a “Peace Petition” will attend a court hearing on Friday, April 22 at 2:00 pm. CCS has written the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, to request that he send a representative to observe the hearing. It is felt that attendance from the international community is critical to assure that the hearings are fair, legal and that international ... Continue Reading>>
Omid Kokabee Diagnosed with Kidney Cancer
Medical tests performed on Omid Kokabee have revealed, that after years of seeking medical care that was not responded to, he has been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Kokabee began complaining of pain in 2011 but was ignored. CCS has written Iranian authorities on several occasions requesting that his medical concerns be addressed and that he receive proper care. On April 16, 2016, it was ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Scholars Arrested, Investigated and Fired from Jobs for Signing Petition
Over 1100 Turkish scholars signed a petition requesting better treatment of the Kurds and asking for a peaceful settlement of the Kurdish situation. Many of those who signed the petition were terminated from their jobs, detained on criminal charges, and investigated. Four scholars have been arrested. CCS has written to President Erdogan requesting that he intercede and release the professors who ... Continue Reading>>