Dr. Amr Hamzawy, a professor of political science at Cairo University and of public policy at the American University in Cairo, faces criminal charges in Egypt for expressing his opinions on Twitter. He wrote that he found shocking and obviously political a verdict against 43 employees of Western-based civil society groups. The employees were found guilty of "receiving illegal funds" and ... Continue Reading>>
Egyptian’s Criticism of NGOs Guilty Verdict
Statement About Cao Shunli
The Committee of Concerned Scientists expresses shock and sadness at the news of the death in detention of human rights activist and lawyer Cao Shunli. Since 2008, Cao has pushed for petitioners and activists to have a voice in China's domestic human rights reviews and the UN's universal periodic review (UPR). Authorities first detained Cao at Beijing airport on September 14, 2014, as she was ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Protests the Beating of Activist and Physicist in Moscow
Dr. Lev Ponomarev, a prominent Russian physicist and human rights activist, was violently evicted from the offices of his organization, "For Human Rights," during a dispute over the lease. Ponomarev and five others were treated so roughly by security guards hired by the city of Moscow that they had to be treated at a first aid clinic. CCS protested the assault to Russian authorities, ... Continue Reading>>
Russian Physicist and Human Rights Activist Beaten at his Moscow Office
Russian physicist and human rights defender Lev Ponomarev was beaten up when he and his staff were violently evicted from the Moscow office of his organization For Human Rights on June 22. Dr. Ponomarev worked and published for many years in elementary particle physics at the Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics in Moscow. He became involved in human rights and politics in the ... Continue Reading>>
Secretary John Kerry to Discuss Chen Guangchen's Nephew Chen Kegui with China
In his talk at the New School on February 6, 2013 (see our posting summarizing that event), the blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng expressed great concern about the arrest and sentencing of his nephew, Chen Kegui, by local authorities in home Chen's province. He believes that attacks on Chen's family members and unfair trial and sentencing of his nephew were actions taken in retaliation for ... Continue Reading>>
Secretary John Kerry to Discuss Chen Guangchen’s Nephew Chen Kegui with China
In his talk at the New School on February 6, 2013 (see our posting summarizing that event), the blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng expressed great concern about the arrest and sentencing of his nephew, Chen Kegui, by local authorities in home Chen's province. He believes that attacks on Chen's family members and unfair trial and sentencing of his nephew were actions taken in retaliation for ... Continue Reading>>
Chen Guangcheng Calls Rule of Law Essential in China for Human Rights
Blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng, who is studying at NYU law school under asylum in the US, gave a talk on February 6, 2013, at the New School in New York City on “The Future of the Rule of Law and Human Rights in China.” CCS had advocated on behalf of granting asylum to Chen in 2012, when he fled from house arrest and mistreatment by Chinese authorities to the US Embassy in Beijing. Chen ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Protests Sentence and Disbarment of Human Rights Attorney Abdolfattah Soltani
The Committee of Concerned Scientists sent a letter to Ayatolla Ail Khamenei, Supremem Leader of Iran, protesting the 13 year sentence given to Abdolfattah Soltani, a prominent human rights attorney, for "spreading propaganda against the system,” and "endangering national security". ... Continue Reading>>
Ronald Reagan’s Lessons for the Chen Guangcheng Case Can Still be Useful
China’s blind activist expertly used the power of the U.S. to magnify his cause. Here’s how Obama should keep up the pressure: by taking a page from Ronald Reagan’s dealings with Russia. by Walter Reich, CCS Co-chair “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” That’s what Archimedes, the Greek mathematician, said 2,300 years ago. And that’s what ... Continue Reading>>
Grant US Asylum to Blind Chinese lawyer, CCS Urges Secretary of State Clinton
Chen Guangcheng, a self-taught Chinese advocate for families forced to undergo sterilization and abortions, was imprisoned for four years and subsequently detained in his house and mistreated without charges for 19 months. After a dramatic escape, Chen Guangcheng sought refuse in the US embassy in Beijing. CCS urges US authorities to grant asylum to Chen and to his family. ... Continue Reading>>