Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, President of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, a world renowned expert on torture and co-author of the Istanbul Protocol (guidelines setting international standards for forensic investigations of torture) was criminally charged for signing the Academics for Peace petition and sentenced to two and a half years in prison, almost twice the amount of time given to the ... Continue Reading>>
Trial of Turkish Academics Who Signed Peace Petition Leading to Jail Time and Deferred Sentences
The first group of Turkish Academics who received indictments have been brought before the courts recently. 700 (of 1,128) have been questioned by police, 542 have been indicted and are in some phase of the trial process. 59 have been sentenced to 15 months, 3 have been sentenced to 18 months, one to 27 months and one to 30 months. All had their sentences deferred except for those refusing to ... Continue Reading>>
Betul Tanbay, Professor of Mathematics at Bogazici University and Vice President-Elect of the European Mathematical Society and Turgut Tarhanli, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Istanbul Bilgi University, Among 13 Prominent Academics, Journalists and Activists Detained on November 15, 2018 By Turkish Authorities
On November 15, 2018, Drs. Tanbay and Tarhanli, were among 13 prominent professionals arrested in Turkey. They were questioned regarding their links to the Anatolia Culture Association. The group was accused of trying to bring down the government due to their involvement in a series of large anti-government demonstration that took place in Istanbul’s Gezi Park in 2013. Twelve of those detained ... Continue Reading>>
Serkan Golge’s Wife, Kubra, Pleads for His Release
Serkan Golge, U.S. NASA Scientist is still confined in a Turkish prison falsely accused of participating in the failed coup attempt in Turkey in the Spring of 2016. The U.S. Government pressured Turkey successfully to release Reverend Brunson, but Golge is still confined in Turkish jail. CCS has written requesting a review of this case, dismissal of the charges and Golge’s immediate release and ... Continue Reading>>
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Visited Turkey Today and Addressed Release of Serkan Golge, US NASA Scientist
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travelled to Turkey today to discuss several issues - one being the release of U.S. NASA scientist, Serkan Golge. Dr. Golge has been confined since 2016 after being accused of involvement with the failed coup attempt as a supporter of Gulen. Dr. Golge has denied Gulenist and coup involvement. He was, however, initially sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, which was ... Continue Reading>>
NASA Scientist Still Held in Turkish Prison – Needs Concerted U.S. Help for Release
Dr. Serkan Golge, an American citizen and a scientist working with NASA on their Mission to Mars program, was arrested while on vacation with his family, visiting his parents in Turkey. He was accused of being a participant in the failed coup attempt against the President of Turkey. He has always denied the charge. There appears to be very little corroborative evidence in this case and his ... Continue Reading>>
Hanifi Baris, Signer of Peace Petition, Goes to Court on September 18th for Re-Posting Articles on Social Media. International Observers Invited to Attend Hearing
Hanifi Baris was arrested for posting items of “criminal intent” (reposting articles from Turkish newspapers and other newspapers and magazines) on the internet and to which he did not add any of his own commentary. He has been held in pre-trial detention for this since July 4, 2018. On September 18, 2018 he is scheduled to have his court hearing at the Caglayan Courthouse. International ... Continue Reading>>
NASA Scientist Imprisoned in Turkey Scheduled for Court Hearing on September 19, 2018. CCS Requesting Written Support from Members of the International Scientific Community
Serkan Golge, a NASA scientist has been confined in jail in Turkey since July 2016, when he was arrested on a family vacation and accused of being involved with the failed coup attempt that took place in Turkey on July 15, 2016. Golge denied the charges but was sentenced to 7.5 years. Golge has an appeal hearing on September 19, 2018 and CCS is requesting that people in the scientific community ... Continue Reading>>
NASA Scientist Still Imprisoned in Turkey – Need US Government to Intercede
In July of 2016 during a family vacation, NASA scientist, Dr. Serkan Golge, was arrested in Turkey as he and his family were preparing to return to the United States. He was accused of being affiliated with "FETO," the organization that was suspected, by the President of Turkey, of planning the failed coup attempt that took place on July 15th. Dr. Golge vehemently denied this charge. Since his ... Continue Reading>>
Economics Professor Sentenced to Life in Prison in Turkey – Released Awaiting Appeal
Mehmet Altan, a professor of Economics at Istanbul University (where he had taught for over 30 years) and a prolific writer, was convicted, along with his brother, Ahmet, and a journalist, Nazli Ilicak for their alleged involvement in a 2016 failed military coup in Turkey. It is alleged that they sent “subliminal messages” regarding the failed coup attempt while on a television show. It seems, ... Continue Reading>>