In the past two years, over 100 Syrian scholars have applied to the International Institute of Education (IIE)’s Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF), which provides fellowships abroad to faculty who are threatened in their home countries, --about ten times more than applied between 2002 and 2011 --. according to an October 14, 2013 article in the publication Nature, "We Must Preserve Syria's Scientific ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Saving Syrian Scholarship in Crisis is Goal
CCS Co-sponsors Program on the Human Rights of Scientists in Iran
CCS is co-sponsoring a program on human rights in Iran with Amnesty International: Iran: Silencing Scientists and Squelching Scholarship Saturday November 16, 2013 3:00 to 5:00 pm Georgetown University ICC Auditorium 37th and O Street NW Washington, DC 20007 Panelists include: Dr. Eugene Chudnovsky, Co-Chair of the Committee of Concerned Scientists and Distinguished Professor of Physics ... Continue Reading>>
Highlights of 2013 Cases
During the past year, we have achieved some successes, and persevered in our struggle when we haven't. We welcomed some notable releases from jail – of Dr. Cyril Karabus in the United Arab Emirates, and of Drs. Kemal Guruz and Mehmet Haberal in Turkey. These were achieved after several years of advocacy by CCS and other science human rights organizations. The following summary of our ... Continue Reading>>
Omid Kokabee, Boris Altshuler
Win APS Andrei Sakharov Prize
Omid Kokabee, a University of Texas graduate student currently imprisoned in Iran, has been awarded the American Physical Society's 2014 Andrei Sakharov Prize, which recognizes outstanding leadership and achievements of scientists in upholding human rights. Kokabee will share the honor with Dr. Boris Altshuler of the Russian Federation. The prize carries $10,000 for each winner. The APS press ... Continue Reading>>
Omid Kokabee, Boris Altshuler Win APS Andrei Sakharov Prize
Omid Kokabee, a University of Texas graduate student currently imprisoned in Iran, has been awarded the American Physical Society's 2014 Andrei Sakharov Prize, which recognizes outstanding leadership and achievements of scientists in upholding human rights. Kokabee will share the honor with Dr. Boris Altshuler of the Russian Federation. The prize carries $10,000 for each winner. The APS press ... Continue Reading>>
Kemal Gürüz Released from Prison
We welcome the news that Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz, a chemical engineer, education administrator and former professor and university rector, was allowed to go home pending his appeal from the thirteen years and eleven month sentence imposed on him by a criminal court in Turkey on August 5, 2013. In a new trial on September 5 on another charge, Dr. Gürüz was placed on probation by an Ankara court ... Continue Reading>>
New Appeal for Omid Kokabee Details Specific Human Rights Law Violations
The Committee of Concerned Scientists endorses a new appeal on behalf of Texas University physics student Omid Kokabee, who is imprisoned in Teheran. CCS and many other human rights organizations have been advocating for his release since his arrest in 2011. The letters to Iranian and international officials (see below) were drafted by Ellen Hutchison, a student at Texas University/Austin, with ... Continue Reading>>
Court Hands Down Harsh Verdicts in Ergenekon Case: Drs. Haberal, Hilmioğlu, Gürüz get 13 to 23 Years
On August 5, 2013, the trial court in the five-year old Ergenekon trial, alleging that military officers and secularist allies planned an unsuccessful coup to overthrow the elected Islamic-leaning government, the High Criminal Court handed down severe sentences based on thousands of pages of indictments, based on trials described by international observers as lacking due process. Of the ... Continue Reading>>
International Human Rights Science Network Calls for Release of Eight Turkish Colleagues
In an extensive and thoroughly researched investigative report -- to be released in late August -- the International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies calls on Turkey to drop all charges against scientists, engineers and doctors accused of terrorism-related crimes. These include Drs. Guruz, Haberal, Hilmioglu and others for whom CCS has advocated. The authors -- Nobel ... Continue Reading>>
Computer Student in Turkey, Protesters, Systematically Denied Legal Assistance
CCS wrote to authorities in Turkey to protest the policy of the Istanbul police, as reported by the Istanbul Bar Association, to systematically deny access to legal assistance for protesters as they were arrested. A student of computer engineering, Ismail Cem Bakir, was unable to consult his attorney as police arrested him and raided his home, in violation of his fundamental human rights. ... Continue Reading>>