Fikret Baskaya had been detained and charged with “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” due to an article he wrote three years ago. In his third hearing before the Ankara 21st Heavy Penal Court on November 22nd he was acquitted and released. Prior to the trial CCS wrote to the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan requesting a review of Dr. Baskaya’s case and his immediate release. ... Continue Reading>>
Mathematician, Tuna Altinel, Denied Return of Passport, Despite Court Ruling Allowing Him to Leave Country
Tuna Altinel, a mathematics professor at Frances Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University was arrested in May 2019 and released in July while awaiting a second hearing in November. When released he was not denied travel but his passport was not returned. As there is no legal restriction on his travel CCS is requesting that his passport be returned to him. November 19, ... Continue Reading>>
Ayse Erzan, Retired Physics Professor at Istanbul Technical University and Xiaoxing Xi, a Chinese-born American Physicist and Former Chair of the Physics Department at Temple University Received the American Physical Society’s 2020 Andrei Sakharov Prize
Ayse Erzan was a signer of the Peace Petition in Turkey and wrongfully indicted. She has been involved in the peace and women’s movements. Upon notice of having received the reward Dr. Erzan commented that she felt the award was not really for her, but more for the struggles of the Academics for Peace. Dr. Erzan has been actively involved in assisting academics who have been, like herself, ... Continue Reading>>
17 Scholars, from Meliksah University in Turkey, Sentenced To Maximum of 11 Years in Prison
In the aftermath of the attempted coup in 2016, many universities in Turkey were closed leaving staff with no jobs and students with no available schooling. Many staff members of these schools were charged for “supporting a terrorist organization." Meliksah University was one of those involved. On August 15, 2016 arrest warrants were issued for 100 members of their staff. Sixty-three were ... Continue Reading>>
Former Rector of Canik Basari University Awaiting Trial in Turkey
Yunus Bekdemir was the former founder of Canik Başarı (Success or Achievement) University and arrested for “membership of an armed terrorist organization” and “opposition to the law on the prevention of financing of terrorism” on September 23, 2016. His university was closed as one of the 15 universities that were closed after the failed coup. At the Samsun 3rd Peace Court of Criminal Jurisdiction ... Continue Reading>>
Writer’s Hearing To Take Place Two Years After Arrest for Giving Speech Critical of Turkish Government
Writer, Temel Demirer, was arrested in July 2017 for giving a speech that was critical of the government. For the past 27 months he has been subjected to a travel ban and faces criminal charges. His next hearing is Tuesday, October 15, 2019. CCS has written the Minister of Justice requesting his release as he has a right to freedom of speech and expression. ... Continue Reading>>
Approaching Hearing for Academic Charged With Releasing Research Information
Bulent Sik, a former Turkish academic, is charged with releasing research information he thought needed to be released to ensure the public safety. His hearing will be held on September 26th. Link to Fact Sheet: [pdf-embedder url="https://concernedscientists.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BULENTSIKFACTSHEET21SEPTEMBER2019.pdf"] ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish/US Dual Citizen Still Barred From Returning To His Job In the US
Professor Ismail Kul was arrested in August 2016 for allegedly participating in the attempted coup of July 2016, and imprisoned for 18 months. The Turkish authorities released him in January 2018, six months after evidence of his innocence came out. He is still barred from traveling, and, in particular, from returning to his home in the US, and resuming his work as a Chemistry professor at Widener ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Encourages US Congressmen to Advocate for Release of Serkan Golge from Turkey with Charges Dropped
NASA Scientist, U.S. citizen, Serkan Golge who was wrongly accused of participating in the attempted coup in Turkey, was released from prison recently, but is still required to wear an ankle monitor and report to the police four days a week. His charges were never dropped, his passport was not returned, and he is not free to leave Turkey. CCS is writing to Congresmen Lankford, Wicker, Cardin, ... Continue Reading>>
On July 30, Gregory Cherlin, Member of the CCS Advisory Board, Attended the Court Hearing in Turkey for the Case of a Turkish-French Mathematician, Tuna Altinel. Here is Prof. Cherlin’s Report on the Hearing.
[pdf-embedder url="https://concernedscientists.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/AltinelTunabyCherlin.Final_.pdf" title="AltinelTunabyCherlin.Final"] ... Continue Reading>>