Raif Badawi, on October 29, was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Badawi is a blogger from Saudi Arabia currently serving a prison sentence for insulting Islam on his website. Related articles Jailed, flogged Saudi blogger Badawi wins EU rights prize (washingtonpost.com) Sakharov Prize: nominations for 2015 unveiled (appablog.wordpress.com) ... Continue Reading>>
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Saudi Blogger Who Has Been Jailed And Flogged for Insulting Muslim Clerics Awarded Major Free-Speech Award
Raif Badawi was awarded the PEN Pinter Prize (which he shares with British poet James Fenton). Badawi is serving a 10-year sentence for insulting Islam and breaking Saudi Arabia's technology laws with his liberal blog. Related Articles Flogged Saudi blogger wins Pinter free-speech prize (washingtonpost.com) Raif Badawi (concernedscientists.org) ... Continue Reading>>
Ecologist Aleksandr Kolchenko Tried in Russian Military Court and Found Guilty
Aleksandr Kolchenko, a Ukrainian Ecologist, was found guilty of organizing attacks against pro-Russian organizations and conspiring to destroy a statue of Lenin. CCS is requesting that his case be reviewed and retried in a civilian court. CCS is also requesting that his well-being be assured and he have access to his attorney and his family. October 1, 2015 Mr. Vladimir Putin President of ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Reminds Presidents Obama and Xi Jinping to Release Wang Yu, Li Heping and Ilham Tohti
Encouraged by China's recent release of Chen Kegui and Guo Yushan, CCS calls upon both Presidents to facilitate the release of Chinese Human Rights attorneys, Uighur Professor Ilham Tohti and others. ... Continue Reading>>
New York City Bar Association Writes President of China Addressing Arrests of Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
The President of the New York City Bar Association sends a letter requesting the release of the myriad of human rights attorneys who have recently been arrested in China. Download the NY Bar Assn Letter on Chinese Attorneys ... Continue Reading>>
Omid Kokabee’s Mother Pleads with Ayatollah for his Release
Omid Kokabee's mother wrote a letter to the Ayatollah pleading for the release of her son after serving almost five years in prison without a furlough, or a pardon. Despite the ruling of the Supreme Court of the land in his favor, he remains in Evin Prison with no indication of a release. He is being denied books and the time to read them, his health is failing and from all reports it appears he ... Continue Reading>>
Nephew of Chinese Lawyer and Activist Chen Released from Prison
The nephew of the blind lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng, who was arrested following his uncle's escape from illegal detention, was released from prison on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Chen Kegui was released after serving a three-year, three-month sentence that was widely seen as retribution for his uncle's daring escape from house arrest. Chen said in an email from the United States that ... Continue Reading>>
Good News: Beijing Releases Chinese Scholar Who Helped Lawyer-Activist Chen Flee
Guo Yushan, the Chinese scholar who assisted the lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng flee from illegal detention was released from prison on September 14, 2015, according to his lawyer, Li Jin. Jin said that she did not know why Guo was released or if there was any link to Xi Jinping's United States visit. Related articles Beijing releases activist on eve of Chinese president's visit to US ... Continue Reading>>
Chile Responds to CCS Letter Regarding Dr. Boris Weisfeiler
The Minister of the Presidency of Chile responded to a CCS letter, on behalf of President Bachelet, stating that there is some movement in the country to address the human rights violations that occurred during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Actions that will are taking place are: The National Congress is processing a Bill of Law to create an Undersecretary of Human ... Continue Reading>>
China Arrests Two Human Rights Lawyers on Unspecified Charges
The Chinese Government arrested Li Heping, attorney for Chen Guangcheng, and Wang Yu, attorney for Ilham Tohti, for, as yet, unspecified charges. A general arrest of more than 225 Human Rights attorneys took place in China in mid-Spring this year. Many were detained, questioned, and some released. Li Heping and Wang Yu have not been released and their whereabouts are undisclosed. It is reported ... Continue Reading>>