Russian physicist and human rights defender Lev Ponomarev was beaten up when he and his staff were violently evicted from the Moscow office of his organization For Human Rights on June 22. Dr. Ponomarev worked and published for many years in elementary particle physics at the Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics in Moscow. He became involved in human rights and politics in the ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
CCS Urges Putin to Release Student Activist
CCS wrote a letter to Russian president Vladimir Putin in support of Yaroslav Belousov, a political science student who was arrested in June of 2012. His trial started recently in Moscow. According to press reports, Belusov was arrested while participating in an authorized protest demonstration. He has been in jail for a year and could be convicted of a sentence of up to 12 years. According to ... Continue Reading>>
Prof. Al-Singace Denied Family Visits and Medical Attention in Bahrain Jail
CCS has learned from Professor Abdul Jail Al-Singace's family that he has been denied medical attention and family visits while serving a life sentence in prison. Al-Singace's conviction was based on his reporting on human rights abuses in Bahrain. Dr. Al-Singace, a professor of mechanical engineering who has taught at the University of Bahrain since 1995, is also a leader of the democratic ... Continue Reading>>
Bahrain Harrasses Human Rights Defenders, Exile Activist Explains in New York Address
On May 9, 2013, Maryam al-Khawaja, acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and a co-director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights, described the current human rights situation in Bahrain as dire, at a meeting sponsored by Scholars at Risk at NYU Law School in New York City. In order to understand the current human rights situation in the country, asking one simple question is ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Requests Dr. Gürüz’ Release from Prison after Suicide Attempt
Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz, a prominent chemical engineer, educator and retired professor, has become depressed in prison and has attempted suicide, CCS has learned from Dr. Gürüz' family. He was arrested as part the alleged “Ergenekon” conspiracy charges and has been held in prison without bail since 2012. Our Previous Activities Read about CCS's continuing efforts on behalf of Kamal Gürüz ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Requests Dr. Gürüz' Release from Prison after Suicide Attempt
Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz, a prominent chemical engineer, educator and retired professor, has become depressed in prison and has attempted suicide, CCS has learned from Dr. Gürüz' family. He was arrested as part the alleged “Ergenekon” conspiracy charges and has been held in prison without bail since 2012. Our Previous Activities Read about CCS's continuing efforts on behalf of Kamal Gürüz ... Continue Reading>>
Dr. Cyril Karabus Returns to South Africa Cleared of UAR Manslaughter Charges
After eight months of frustrating delays in the United Arab Republic, the 78-year old South African pediatrician and oncologist, who was arrested on his way through Dubai last August, finally went home on May 17. The arrest grew out of a 2002 treatment by Dr. Karabus of a child suffering from cancer in the UAR. The patient later died of leukemia. ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Chairs Disagree with Stephen Hawking’s Israel Boycott Position
In a letter to the eminent scientist Stephen Hawking, the co-chairs' of the Committee of Concerned Scientists expressed concern on behalf of CCS that Hawking has publicly endorsed the movement for "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)" directed against Israel and that he has declined an invitation to the June Israeli Presidential Conference in support of the BDS boycott. CCS has ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Chairs Disagree with Stephen Hawking's Israel Boycott Position
In a letter to the eminent scientist Stephen Hawking, the co-chairs' of the Committee of Concerned Scientists expressed concern on behalf of CCS that Hawking has publicly endorsed the movement for "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)" directed against Israel and that he has declined an invitation to the June Israeli Presidential Conference in support of the BDS boycott. CCS has consistently ... Continue Reading>>
Secretary John Kerry to Discuss Chen Guangchen’s Nephew Chen Kegui with China
In his talk at the New School on February 6, 2013 (see our posting summarizing that event), the blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng expressed great concern about the arrest and sentencing of his nephew, Chen Kegui, by local authorities in home Chen's province. He believes that attacks on Chen's family members and unfair trial and sentencing of his nephew were actions taken in retaliation for ... Continue Reading>>