Dr. Massoud Alimohammadi was the victim of a targeted murder in Iran on January 12, 2010. The government of Iran alleges that he was assassinated by Israel and the United States due to his participation in Iran’s nuclear program. According to the journal Science, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. Alimohammadi’s field of study was quantum physics, a field ... Continue Reading>>
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Pro-democracy Syrian medical professionals complete prison terms
Syrian dentist Ahmad To’meh and medical doctors Walid al-Bunni, Feda’a al-Horani, and Yasser al-‘Eiti were released after having served 30 months in prison for their involvement with the National Council of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change—an organization comprised of representatives of opposition political parties and pro-democracy groups in Syria. On October 29, 2008, ... Continue Reading>>
Second Israeli professor denied visa to Egypt
University of Haifa’s Rector Jossi Ben Artzi was recently denied an Egyptian visa. Professor Ben Artzi’s request for a visa to attend the Euro-Mediterranean University’s convention on June 11 and 12 in Alexandria was denied without any explanation. The Euro-Mediterranean University's Rector, Professor Joseph Mifsud, reportedly sent a letter of protest to Egypt's authorities. ... Continue Reading>>
Scientific freedom: What do human rights have to do with it?
By Jessica Wyndham Project Director, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Science and Human Rights Program For decades the scientific community has been advocating to free imprisoned scientists, to protect scientists threatened for revealing politically unpopular scientific findings, and to maintain open borders, allowing global scientific exchange. Arguments based on ... Continue Reading>>
Resolution 953 and Uighur rights
Congressman James McGovern of Massachusetts recently introduced Resolution 953, which calls for the US to raise the issue of Uighur rights with Chinese officials, for an independent investigation in the July crackdown on Uighur protesters, as well as for the establishment of a US consulate in Urumqi and the opening of a meaningful dialogue with China’s government. We support all of these goals. ... Continue Reading>>
Pakistani academic murdered
Nazima Talib, assistant professor of media and journalism in the Department of Mass Communications at the University of Balochistan in Questta, Pakistan, was killed in a drive-by shooting on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, and died before she could receive medical attention. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a nationalist organization seeking secession from Pakistan, has reportedly claimed responsibility ... Continue Reading>>
Thai professor released
Professor Suthachai Yimprasert, assistant professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, who was arrested on May 24, sent to a provincial army camp, and went on a hunger strike, was released on May 31 in Bangkok, according to Thai sources, before we had a chance to write on his behalf. ... Continue Reading>>
Thai professor on hunger strike
Via: University World News: Detained professor starts hunger strike Yojana Sharma An assistant professor of history at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University is on a hunger strike after being arrested by Thai authorities and detained without charge following last week's government crackdown on the Red Shirt protesters. ... Continue Reading>>
French academic returns home
BBC News: A French academic who battled spying charges in Iran for more than 10 months returned to France on 16 May. Clotilde Reiss was accused of collecting information and provoking rioters during the widely disputed June presidential elections in Iran. She was released on bail after a month and a half in Iran's dreaded Evin prison but only on condition that she stayed at the French Embassy in ... Continue Reading>>
Attorney General of Virginia Demands Data from Climate Change Scientist
Kennneth T. Cucinelli, Attorney General of the State of Virginia, required the University of Virginia to turn over data and scientific documents related to Dr. Mann’s climate change research between 1999 and 2005, to ascertain whether he committed fraud against Virginia’s taxpayers under state grants. There seems to be no basis to suspect any fraud, instead the move appears motivated entirely by ... Continue Reading>>