On the second anniversary of the arrest of Omid Kokabee, Iranian physics graduate student at Texas University/Austin, CCS conveys to Iranian authorities the world-wide concern expressed about a ten-year prison sentence for Kokabee. Although charges of espionage were neither substantiated or defended by counsel in a fair trial, this severe sentence has been upheld by an Iranian appeals court. ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Downloading an Offensive Video Shouldn’t Result in Sentence for Egyptian Blogger
An Egyptian computer science graduate and blogger, Alber Saber, downloaded a video considered offensive to Muslims. When neighbors threatened him and his family, Cairo police responded by searching his computer and arresting him for blasphemy. A court sentenced Saber to three years in jail. CCS protested the failure to respect his right of expression and the continued lack of police protection for ... Continue Reading>>
Downloading an Offensive Video Shouldn't Result in Sentence for Egyptian Blogger
An Egyptian computer science graduate and blogger, Alber Saber, downloaded a video considered offensive to Muslims. When neighbors threatened him and his family, Cairo police responded by searching his computer and arresting him for blasphemy. A court sentenced Saber to three years in jail. CCS protested the failure to respect his right of expression and the continued lack of police protection for ... Continue Reading>>
New Appeal in Bahrain for Dr. Al-Singace A Chance for Justice, CCS Claims in Letter
An appeal hearing on January 7, 2013 in the case of engineer and human rights activist Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace would give Bahraini authorities a chance to reverse a life sentence that is based solely on his expression of opinion, according to CCS and other human rights groups that have been advocating for Al-Singace since his arrest in 2011. ... Continue Reading>>
Arrest of Environmentalist on Murder Charges May be Attempt of Further Intimidation, CCS Says
The Committee of Concerned Scientists wrote on behalf of Russian zoologist and environmental activist Suren Gazaryan and geologist Evgeny Vitishenko in May 2012 to protest criminal charges designed to retaliate for environmental inspections. Those charges resulted in a three-year suspended sentence for Dr. Gazaryan. In August 2012, Dr. Gazaryan was charged with attempted murder of a security ... Continue Reading>>
Highlights of 2012 Cases
This year, we have helped academics, human rights activists, scientists and physicians in eight countries. Here is a summary of our work. Our more detailed Annual Report will be released in February. ... Continue Reading>>
Harsh Sentence for Iranian Journalist Should Be Overturned
CCS joined other human rights organizations in writing to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran urging him to overturn the harsh and degrading sentence given to Bahman Ahamdi Amouee, a respected Iranian journalist and economist. Mr. Amouee was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison and 34 lashes for "anti-state activities." He has been in prison since ... Continue Reading>>
Jack Minker Gave Talk on His Memoir
Dr. Jack Minker, CCS Vice-Chair for Computer Science and University of Maryland Professor Emeritus, gave a talk about his recently published memoir, Scientific Freedom & Human Rights: Scientists of Conscience During the Cold War, at the University of Maryland on October 3. Minker's book documents his work in human rights with CCS and other human rights organizations from 1972 to the ... Continue Reading>>
South African Surgeon Arrested in Dubai For Death Twelve Years Ago of Patient
Dr. Cyril Karabus, an eminent South African pediatric surgeon and professor of medicine, was arrested while en route home for charges stemming from the death of patient twelve years ago. He had operated on a child suffering from cancer in the United Arab Emirates, who later died of leukemia. Although earlier charges on the same grounds (of which Dr. Karabus was never notified) had been dismissed, ... Continue Reading>>
Iranian Women Banned from Many Areas of University Study
According to an August 21 press statement by Victoria Nuland of the US Department of State, 36 universities in Iran have banned women from studying in 77 critical fields, including nuclear physics, computer science, engineering and education. The Committee of Concerned Scientists urges the Iranian government to lift these restrictions. ... Continue Reading>>