We welcome the news that Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz, a chemical engineer, education administrator and former professor and university rector, was allowed to go home pending his appeal from the thirteen years and eleven month sentence imposed on him by a criminal court in Turkey on August 5, 2013. In a new trial on September 5 on another charge, Dr. Gürüz was placed on probation by an Ankara court ... Continue Reading>>
Court Hands Down Harsh Verdicts in Ergenekon Case: Drs. Haberal, Hilmioğlu, Gürüz get 13 to 23 Years
On August 5, 2013, the trial court in the five-year old Ergenekon trial, alleging that military officers and secularist allies planned an unsuccessful coup to overthrow the elected Islamic-leaning government, the High Criminal Court handed down severe sentences based on thousands of pages of indictments, based on trials described by international observers as lacking due process. Of the ... Continue Reading>>
International Human Rights Science Network Calls for Release of Eight Turkish Colleagues
In an extensive and thoroughly researched investigative report -- to be released in late August -- the International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies calls on Turkey to drop all charges against scientists, engineers and doctors accused of terrorism-related crimes. These include Drs. Guruz, Haberal, Hilmioglu and others for whom CCS has advocated. The authors -- Nobel ... Continue Reading>>
Computer Student in Turkey, Protesters, Systematically Denied Legal Assistance
CCS wrote to authorities in Turkey to protest the policy of the Istanbul police, as reported by the Istanbul Bar Association, to systematically deny access to legal assistance for protesters as they were arrested. A student of computer engineering, Ismail Cem Bakir, was unable to consult his attorney as police arrested him and raided his home, in violation of his fundamental human rights. ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Requests Dr. Gürüz’ Release from Prison after Suicide Attempt
Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz, a prominent chemical engineer, educator and retired professor, has become depressed in prison and has attempted suicide, CCS has learned from Dr. Gürüz' family. He was arrested as part the alleged “Ergenekon” conspiracy charges and has been held in prison without bail since 2012. Our Previous Activities Read about CCS's continuing efforts on behalf of Kamal Gürüz ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Requests Dr. Gürüz' Release from Prison after Suicide Attempt
Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz, a prominent chemical engineer, educator and retired professor, has become depressed in prison and has attempted suicide, CCS has learned from Dr. Gürüz' family. He was arrested as part the alleged “Ergenekon” conspiracy charges and has been held in prison without bail since 2012. Our Previous Activities Read about CCS's continuing efforts on behalf of Kamal Gürüz ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Joins Amnesty’s Campaign on Turkey’s Lack of Due Process and Free Expression for Academics
CCS has received a number of complaints concerning imprisonment and prosecution of Turkish academics that seem to lack due process and regard for freedom of expression in each case. Professors Haberal and Hilmioglu. still in jail and in ill health, have been threatened with life sentences. Pinar Selek, a writer and scholar, was imprisoned, tortured and sentenced in absentia to aggravated life ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Joins Amnesty's Campaign on Turkey's Lack of Due Process and Free Expression for Academics
CCS has received a number of complaints concerning imprisonment and prosecution of Turkish academics that seem to lack due process and regard for freedom of expression in each case. Professors Haberal and Hilmioglu. still in jail and in ill health, have been threatened with life sentences. Pinar Selek, a writer and scholar, was imprisoned, tortured and sentenced in absentia to aggravated life ... Continue Reading>>
US Ambassador to Turkey Mentions the Gürüz Case. CCS posts Prison Diary Pt. II
US Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. commented on the Turkish court system during an interview with Turkish journalists this week. He specifically mentioned the Kemal Gürüz case. See the last four paragraphs of the following article: Turkey, US to step up legal case against terror (Hurriyet Daily News) As reported in the Hurriyet Daily News, "Ricciardone criticized the fact that in ... Continue Reading>>
Sign Petition on Behalf of Kemal Gürüz
In July, we protested the arrest of one of Turkey’s most prominent academic reformers, Kemal Gürüz, who was arrested and jailed for the second time based on charges of participation in a 1997 plot. He is a retired chemical engineer and former president of both the Turkish of Higher Education Council (YÖK) and the Turkish science-funding agency TÜBITAK. The move was condemned by human-rights ... Continue Reading>>