Xiyue Wang, a Chinese graduate student and American citizen attending Princeton was conducting research for his doctoral thesis in Iran when he was arrested and charged with espionage. Wang was loading documents on the 19th and 20th century eurasian history researching the Qajar dynasty. However, the authorities in Iran thought he was a CIA agent and spy for the United States and sentenced him ... Continue Reading>>
US Executive Order Could Have Serious Consequences on US Science and Academia
The Executive Order banning Muslims from accessing the United States can seriously affect foreign students attending American universities. CCS urges President Trump to take this into consideration. ... Continue Reading>>
Academics and Scientists Severely Affected by Attempted Coup in Turkey
On July 15, 2016 a fraction of the Turkish military attempted to seize power from democratically elected leaders. Turkish citizens went to the streets and protested en masse. The democracy was saved but two hundred innocent people had died and over a thousand were injured. The Turkish government declared a state of emergency and began purging Turkish institutions from elements allegedly ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Signs Scholars at Risk Letter in Support of Turkish Scholars
New York, January 21, 2016 – This afternoon, a coalition of 20 higher education networks and associations from around the world have issued a joint public letter expressing grave concern over recent reports of widespread pressures on members of Turkey’s higher education and research community. Read the Letter The Committee of Concerned Scientists is one of the 20 organizations that co-signed ... Continue Reading>>
Good News: Palestinian Astronomer Released
Imad Barghouthi was released on Jan. 22, 2015, according to his lawyer, Jawad Boulos. Boulos said that at the hearing appealing the detention he presented the CCS letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu protesting Barghouthi's detention and that this had impressed the court. Barghouthi asked his lawyer to convey his gratitude to CCS. Related articles Israel's Detention of Palestinian Astronomer ... Continue Reading>>
Israel’s Detention of Palestinian Astronomer Traveling to Conference Violates Human Rights
CCS protests Israel's detention without charges of Dr. Imad al-Barghouthi, an astro-physicist and professor at al-Quds University, while he was traveling to the United Arab Emirates to a conference. Such interference with academic freedom and due process violates international conventions, CCS writes, as well as human rights specifically mentioned in Israel's agreement with the EU for research and ... Continue Reading>>
Malaysian Law Professor’s Remarks
On Crisis Lead to Sedition Charges
Azmi Sharom, an associate professor of law at the University of Malaysia Faculty of Law compared an ongoing political crisis to a situation in 2009 and criticised the secrecy with which the issue was treated. He is being prosecuted for sedition. CCS requested that to the extent his statements were made in respect to his professional competence as a legal scholar, the charges should be dropped as ... Continue Reading>>