The government of Turkey issued a decree in August that would strip the Academy of its autonomy by having political bodies appoint most of its members and making its presidency a government-appointed position. The Committee of Concerned Scientists wrote to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan supporting the action of other science academies in support of the Academy's autonomy ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Iranian Physician Released From Prison
Arash Alaei, a pioneering HIV and AIDS doctor, has been released from an Iranian prison, his family said Sunday Aug. 28. Both he and his brother, Kamiar Alaei, who is also a doctor, were arrested in 2008. They were charged with "communication with an enemy government" and for trying to "overthrow the government," according to Kamiar. ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Protests the Arrest of Iranian Academic
CCS wrote a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i protesting the arrest and detention of Ramin Zibaei, a psychology scholar and dean at the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education in Tehran. ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Co-Chairs Weigh in on Science Organizations’ Retreat from Individual Human Rights Advocacy
An extensive July 27 article by Declan Butler in Nature magazine explored the apparent shift away from focus on individual human rights activities by major science organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the New York Academy of Science (NYAS) and the American Chemical Society (ACS). Leading scientific societies in the United States are being ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Co-Chairs Weigh in on Science Organizations' Retreat from Individual Human Rights Advocacy
An extensive July 27 article by Declan Butler in Nature magazine explored the apparent shift away from focus on individual human rights activities by major science organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the New York Academy of Science (NYAS) and the American Chemical Society (ACS). Leading scientific societies in the United States are being challenged ... Continue Reading>>
Professor Masaud Jahromi Arrested in Bahrain
CCS wrote a letter to the King of Bahrain protesting the arrest of Professor Masaud Jahromi, Chairman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Ahlia University. Read the letter: ... Continue Reading>>
Weisfeiler Case submitted to Human Rights Commission in Chile
In 2010, Olga Weisfeiler and her son Lev arrived in Chile to resubmit Boris Weisfeiler's case to the recently opened human rights commission, Comisión Asesora par la calificatión de Detenidos Desaparacidos, Ejecutados Politicos y Victimas de Prisión Politica y Tortura, in short La Comisión, for evaluation. The Commission's work was presented to the President of Chile on August 18, 2011. No date is ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Follows-up on the Detention of Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith
CCS wrote a follow-up letter to the government of the United Arab Emirates to protest the detention of Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, a scholar and lecturer in Economics. Read the letter: ... Continue Reading>>
Follow-up on the Arrest and Trial of Math Professor Pham Minh Hoang
CCS wrote a follow-up letter to Prime Minister Nguen Tan Dung of Viet Nam joining other human rights organizations in urging the government to release Professor Pham Minh Hoang. Read the letter: ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Requests the Release of Iranian Graduate Student
CCS writes an open letter to Iran''s Ayatollah Khamene’i requesting release from jail of Omid Kokabee, Iranian graduate student in optics at the University of Texas, who had returned to Iran to visit family. Read our letter: July 14, 2011 His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamene’i The Supreme Leader, The Islamic Republic of Iran Tehran Your Eminence, Grand Ayatollah Ali Hoseyni Khamene’I: ... Continue Reading>>