4 Sep, 2009 The students, bound for Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and the United States, were told they did not have appropriate documents required for foreign study. The Ministry of Education issued new, burdensome guidelines, requiring: an invitation for the university where the students proposed to study; a copy of its license; verification of state-affiliation status; ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Venezuela: physicists forced out for ideological reasons
These actions are believed to be part of initiatives by the Government to curtail the independence and resources of the science establishment of Venezuela. Inexperienced professionals with little scientific experience have been appointed to positions of authority, according to ACFIMAN, resources to universities and research centers are cut, and support of proposals is distributed according to the ... Continue Reading>>
Cuba: doctor arrested
Dr. Darsi Ferrer and his wife, Yusnaymi Jorge Soca, were arrested in July, according to human rights advocates, the day before they planned to lead a demonstration in Havana. Dr. Ferrer is the Director of the Juan Bruno Zayas Center for Health and Human Rights in Havana. An Afro-Cuban medical professional, Dr. Ferrer established the center to offer medical attention to extremely poor Cubans who ... Continue Reading>>
Iran: arrest of French professor and violence against students
According to the French Government, 23-year-old Clotilde Reiss, who had spent the past five months teaching French at the University of Isfahan, was arrested as she prepared to fly out of Tehran because she had used her cell phone to take pictures of demonstrators. Reports also indicate that widespread violence was used on behalf of the government against university students, including mass ... Continue Reading>>
India: Doctor who provided health care to poor incarcerated
Dr. Binayak Sen: CCS Wrote to Indian authorities on State and Federal level to urge medical care and release from incarceration for Dr Sen, a pioneer in health care to poor and indigenous communities in Chhattisgarh state and a human rights activist, who has been incarcerated on charges of violating security laws that Amnesty International says are unfounded. Local authorities imprisoned him ... Continue Reading>>
Turkey: Science magazine editor allegedly fired for evolution coverage
Dr. Cigem Atakuman: Expressed CCS concern about the suppression of an issue on evolution in a scientific magazine published by TUBITAK, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, and with the firing of the publication’s editor. The March issue of “Bilim ve Teknik” (Science & Technology), which would have covered Darwin and his contributions to science, was changed at the last ... Continue Reading>>
Obstacles to the mobility of scientists
Presentation by Sophie Cook, Executive Director, CCS, at the July 24 meeting of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition Meeting, in Washington DC. I am pleased to represent the Committee of Concerned Scientists on this panel titled “Human Rights and the Mobility of Scientists: Acting on Visa Restrictions.” ... Continue Reading>>
China: Historian unable to leave after serving prison sentence
Professor Tohti Tunyaz: Welcomed the release from prison of Tohti Tunyaz, an Uighur historian and writer, but protested his inability to leave China to rejoin his family in Japan, under restrictions imposed by Chinese authorities. At the time of his arrest, Tohti was studying for a PhD in Uighur history and ethnic relations at Tokyo University, in Japan. Tohti was sentenced to 11 years in prison ... Continue Reading>>
Misguided and Illegal Boycott
We wish to alert American Chemical Society members to a worrisome development: More than 190 faculty members and student groups at U.S. colleges have endorsed a boycott of Israel academics. The group promoting the boycott calls itself “U.S. Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel.” We are very concerned about this movement (both of us sit on the board of the Committee of Concerned ... Continue Reading>>
Scholar Rescue Fund Report Indicates that Threats to Scholars are Chronic and Widespread
“Scholar Rescue in the Modern World” Defines Academic Oppression Index NEW YORK, April 16, 2009 – A new report issued this week by the Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund indicates that intimidation, repression and fear have threatened to silence surprisingly high numbers of the world’s academics and forced many others to flee their homelands in search of a safe space to ... Continue Reading>>