Herbert Berk, chair of the American Physical Society's Committee on International Freedom of Scientists, writes an editorial in the Washington Post in support of Omid Kokabee. Berk writes soliciting wider support from the general public and government officials for his release. Omid Kokabee is a gifted graduate student in Physics who is languishing in an Iranian prison for refusing to participate ... Continue Reading>>
Raif Badawi, Saudi Blogger, is Awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought
Raif Badawi, on October 29, was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Badawi is a blogger from Saudi Arabia currently serving a prison sentence for insulting Islam on his website. Related articles Jailed, flogged Saudi blogger Badawi wins EU rights prize (washingtonpost.com) Sakharov Prize: nominations for 2015 unveiled (appablog.wordpress.com) ... Continue Reading>>
A Documentary on Ilham Tohti: His Current Situation and His Work
CCS has been working for the release of Ilham Tohti, formerly a professor at Minzu University in Beijing. He has been involved in attempting to improve the plight of the Uighur population in the People’s Republic of China. He was sentenced to life in prison in September 2014 for advocating for basic economic, cultural, religious and political rights for this population. Watch the documentary on ... Continue Reading>>
Saudi Blogger Who Has Been Jailed And Flogged for Insulting Muslim Clerics Awarded Major Free-Speech Award
Raif Badawi was awarded the PEN Pinter Prize (which he shares with British poet James Fenton). Badawi is serving a 10-year sentence for insulting Islam and breaking Saudi Arabia's technology laws with his liberal blog. Related Articles Flogged Saudi blogger wins Pinter free-speech prize (washingtonpost.com) Raif Badawi (concernedscientists.org) ... Continue Reading>>
Ilham Tohti Requesting Legal Counsel for Appeal of His Case
Ilham Tohti has called on his family to engage lawyers and lodge an appeal for him through the Chinese judicial system. Tohti was arrested on July 30, 2014 and charged, after a period of detention, with separatism, which he denies. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Tohti was a Professor at Central Minorities University in Beijing. He has been an advocate for the Uighur ... Continue Reading>>