Dr. Firew Bekele has been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation accused of writing a book critical of the government. Bekele denies writing it but acknowledges helping with writing it. Being detained in this regard is a violation of his human rights to free expression and speech. CCS has written to the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, ... Continue Reading>>
British-Australian Lecturer Has Been Held in Iranian Prison for Past Year Convicted of Espionage
Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s Asia Studies Institute, was arrested in Iran and charged with espionage. She has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. This week it was revealed that a British-Australian academic who had been teaching at the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute in Australia was arrested in Iran in October of 2018 , tried allegedly for ... 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: ... Continue Reading>>
BAD NEWS: Academics Silenced Due to Repression in Turkey
After taking positions on political issues in Turkey, many academics were terminated from their positions on University campuses with large numbers of them being criminally charged and sentenced. Many, who were able, left Turkey and others remained silent. The effect on advanced education in Turkey has been disastrous. Turkey’s Crackdown on Academics Represses History Once Again ... Continue Reading>>
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and the Anti-Torture Initiative Sent a Joint Open Letter to the President of Turkey Condemning Criminal Proceedings Against Dr. Fincanci as Well as the Conviction/Sentence
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>>