Dr. Matrouk al-Faleh, a 55-year-old Saudi political scientist and human rights advocate, was released from prison on January 10, 2009, after being held for more than seven months without charges. ... Continue Reading>>
Our Work
Binayak Sen
On May 25, 2009, India's Supreme Court granted Dr. Binayak Sen unconditional release on bail. Dr. Sen, a medical doctor, and his wife, Ilina, are at Christian Medical College in Vellore receiving medical care. Although Dr. Sen is out of prison on bail, his trial continues. After 16 months, he has not yet been allowed to present his defense and a third charge was recently filed against ... Continue Reading>>
Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim
Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim's sentence to two years hard labor for "defaming Egypt"--based on his criticism of President Mubarak's poor human rights record--was overturned in May 2009, just before President Obama's state visit to Cairo. For the second time, CCS and others advocated on behalf of the eminent sociologist, who founded the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies in Cairo. ... Continue Reading>>
Turkmenistan: travel ban on students bound for foreign universities
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>>
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>>