Professor Rafiee's appeal may be heard next week. His family is hopeful that there will be a positive verdict from the courts. It appears that the support he has received is having a positive response. Related Letter Scholars’ Open Letter to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran More than 350 scholars have signed a letter urging President Ruhani to release Dr. Rafiee. January 27, ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Scholars Who Signed Petition Detained in Turkey, Many Dismissed from Jobs
Turkish authorities rounded up scholars who signed a petition requesting the military to stop their behavior towards the Kurdish community in the south eastern part of the country. Universities also began dismissing the professors who had signed the petition. Those detained have now been released but they do face investigation and possible arrest. Many have already been dismissed from their ... Continue Reading>>
Two Human Rights Lawyers Formally Charged in China
Wang Yu, lawyer for Ilham Tohti, and Li Heping, lawyer for Chen Guangcheng, were detained by Chinese authorities in July 2015. CCS, at that time, wrote a letter requesting their release. They have now been formally arrested with charges that could result in life sentences. January 22, 2016 President Xi Jinping The State Council General’s Office 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu Beijingshi ... Continue Reading>>
Moroccan Historian Denied Travel for Conference Faces Criminal Charges
Professor Maati Monjib, a Moroccan historian, was banned from traveling out of the country to attend a professional conference in Spain. He began a hunger strike, became ill and was hospitalized. The ban was lifted and hunger strike ended but Professor Monjib and several of his colleagues were charged with “harming internal state security,” a charge for which he can receive five years in prison. ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Thanks US Officials for Defense of Scientific Freedom
The Committee of Concerned Scientists extends support and gratitude to the Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, and the Kathryn Sullivan, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), for their refusal to allow politics to interfere with free scientific inquiry and in defense of scientific freedom. December 14, 2015 The Honorable Penny Pritzker Secretary of ... Continue Reading>>
Chinese-American Hydrologist Terminated by US Government with No Evidence
Sherry Chen, a Chinese-American hydrologist, was terminated from her position at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration after an investigation as a spy for China found no grounds for charges. The Committee of Concerned Scientists wrote to the Deputy Director of the National Weather Service at NOAA requesting that Ms. Chen be reinstated in her position as an hydrologist. The ... Continue Reading>>
Russian Librarian Placed Under House Arrest for Allegedly “inciting hatred”
Natalia Sharina, a Russian librarian, was placed under house arrest for allegedly “inciting hatred” because the library contained books banned under Russian anti-extremism laws. Ms. Sharina was detained and may be tried as an attempt to intimidate librarians. The Committee of Concerned Scientists has written to President Putin requesting that he take all steps necessary to ensure that charges ... Continue Reading>>
Letter of Commendation to US Ambassador for Support of Detained Human Rights Attorneys
The Committee of Concerned Scientists wrote a letter to commend the US Ambassador to China, The Honorable Max Baucus, for taking a position and making a public statement in support of the detained Human Rights attorneys in China. Specifically, he mentioned the two attorneys for whom we have advocated in the past – Wang Yu who was the attorney for Ilham Tohti and Li Heping who was the attorney for ... Continue Reading>>
A History of Human Rights Work at the American Physical Society
CCS Advisory Board member, Dr. Edward Gerjuoy, Professor Emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh's Physics Department, has penned a very informative article on the development of the American Physical Society's involvement in the defense of human rights. Read the American Physical Society's Defense of Human Rights ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Urges Saudi King to Pardon Blogger
CCS wrote to the King of Saudi Arabia, requesting a pardon for Raif Badawi, a Saudi Arabian blogger who was sentenced to a 10-year prison term as well as weekly floggings for "insulting Islam through electronic channels." By subjecting Badawi to torture, Saudi Arabia violates agreements that it is party to: The UN Convention Against Torture and the Arab Charter on Human Rights. November 30, ... Continue Reading>>