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>>
Our Work
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>>
Sign Petition on Behalf of Kemal Gürüz
In July, we protested the arrest of one of Turkey’s most prominent academic reformers, Kemal Gürüz, who was arrested and jailed for the second time based on charges of participation in a 1997 plot. He is a retired chemical engineer and former president of both the Turkish of Higher Education Council (YÖK) and the Turkish science-funding agency TÜBITAK. The move was condemned by human-rights ... Continue Reading>>
Student Leader in Sudan Released
We welcome news of the release from jail of Mohammed Salah Mohammed, a chemistry student in his final year at the faculty of science at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. CCS wrote protesting his arrest on June 24, after non-violent student demonstrations in which he participated. Mohammed is the spokesperson of the Sudanese Student Democratic Front and president of the Nubian regional student ... Continue Reading>>
Prof. Al-Singace's Free Expression Charges Should be Dismissed in Upcoming Appeal
Abdul Jail Al-Singace, a scholar of mechanical engineering and opposition activist in Bahrain, was sentenced to life imprisonment in June of 2011. Since his detention in 2009, CCS has been opposing his imprisonment based solely on his exercise of his human rights. Our letters also expressed concern for Al-Singace's health because he is partially paralyzed. In anticipation of his appeal hearing, ... Continue Reading>>
Prof. Al-Singace’s Free Expression Charges Should be Dismissed in Upcoming Appeal
Abdul Jail Al-Singace, a scholar of mechanical engineering and opposition activist in Bahrain, was sentenced to life imprisonment in June of 2011. Since his detention in 2009, CCS has been opposing his imprisonment based solely on his exercise of his human rights. Our letters also expressed concern for Al-Singace's health because he is partially paralyzed. In anticipation of his appeal hearing, ... Continue Reading>>
Russian Professors Sentenced for Spying: CCS Questions Due Process of Closed Trial
Following up on its letter of 2010, CCS wrote to President Putin protesting the due process followed when Professors Svyatoslav Bobyshev and Yevgeny Afanasyev of Baltic State Technical University were sentenced to 12 years each for spying for China. The sentences were reportedly handed down in a closed trial. These accusations stem from a cooperative relationship Baltic State Technical University ... Continue Reading>>
University Student Arrested in Sudan
CCS requests the release of Mohammed Salah Mohammed, a student leader at the University of Khartoum's Faculty of Science. According to reports by Amnesty International, he was arrested after he participated in peaceful protests. He is being held without charge. Read our letter to the government of Sudan: ... Continue Reading>>
Prominent Turkish Academic Kemal Gürüz Detained: CCS Asks for His Immediate Release on Bail
One of Turkey's most prominent academic reformers, Kemal Gürüz, was arrested and jailed for the second time based on charges of participation in a 1997 plot. He is a retired chemical engineer and former president of both the Turkish of Higher Education Council (YÖK) and the Turkish science-funding agency TÜBITAK.The move was condemned by human-rights activists and some Turkish scientists, who say ... Continue Reading>>
Professor Busra Ersanli Released from Jail
CCS welcomes the news from Scholars at Risk informing us that Professor Busra Ersanli of Turkey was released from prison on Friday, July 13, 2012. Reports indicate that charges against Professor Ersanli remain and that the trial will continue on October 1. Professor Ersanli, a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Marmara University in Istanbul, was arrested on October 28, ... Continue Reading>>