On the fifth anniversary of Omid Kokabee's imprisonment in Iran, CCS appeals to President Rouhani for his unconditional release. Kokabee, a Iranian doctoral student in physics at the University of Texas — Austin, was arrested in 2011 while visiting his family in Iran. On August 20, 2015, Omid Kokabee turned 33, it was his fifth birthday in prison. Two months later he developed anemia, abdominal ... Continue Reading>>
Appeal for Professor Mohammad Hossein Rafiee Fanood
Professor Rafiee's appeal may be heard next week. His family is hopeful that there will be a positive verdict from the courts. It appears that the support he has received is having a positive response. Related Letter Scholars’ Open Letter to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran More than 350 scholars have signed a letter urging President Ruhani to release Dr. Rafiee. January 27, ... Continue Reading>>
Physicist and Human Rights Activist Narges Mohammadi Arrested Again in Iran
Narges Mohammadi, a physicist, engineer and human rights advocate has again been arrested for allegedly meeting with the European Union's Foreign Policy Chief while the EU official was visiting Iran. CCS is requesting that Ruhani examine the case and release Narges, particularly due to her life-threatening health conditions. October 28, 2015 Hasan Fereidun Ruhani President, The Islamic ... Continue Reading>>
Physicist’s Group Writes in Support of Omid Kokabee
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>>
Omid Kokabee’s Mother Pleads with Ayatollah for his Release
Omid Kokabee's mother wrote a letter to the Ayatollah pleading for the release of her son after serving almost five years in prison without a furlough, or a pardon. Despite the ruling of the Supreme Court of the land in his favor, he remains in Evin Prison with no indication of a release. He is being denied books and the time to read them, his health is failing and from all reports it appears he ... Continue Reading>>
Iran Increases Presssure on Omid Kokabee
As the news from Iran encourages us that the new negotiations may lead to the release of Omid Kokabee, we find ourselves, instead, discouraged as the pressure on Omid seems to be increasing. Most recently, in April he was sent to a solitary ward for further interrogation; recently, he was instructed to stop reading and to put his books away and his nightlight was confiscated. This week, his family ... Continue Reading>>
Omid Kokabee’s Birthday
CCS would like to wish a happy 33rd birthday to Omid Kokabee. This is the 5th birthday that he has spent in Evin Prison in Iran. For further information please read this article in Iranwire. Related articles Omid Kokabee Marks Birthday in Jail (en.iranwire.com) Free Omid Facebook page Kokabee Archive (concernedscientists.org) Guards Punish Jailed Scientist for Media Reports ... Continue Reading>>
An Appeal to Iranian Scientists on Behalf of Omid Kokabee
The Committee of Concerned Scientists (CCS) is asking Iranian scientists to apply their influence to free Omid Kokabee who is serving a 10-year prison sentence in Tehran for his refusal to participate in research related to Iran’s nuclear program, see Op-Ed on Omid Kokabee and Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Program. Earlier this year CCS wrote to Dr. Mohammad-Javad Larijani, Secretary of the Human ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Protests Arbitrary Arrest of Retired Tehran University Professor
For the third time since 2001, Dr. Mohammad Hossein Rafiee has been wrongfully detained in Iran. His arrest on unspecified charges is in breach of the guarantees outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Committee of Concerned Scientists has expressed its deep concern for Dr. Rafiee's well-being and has ... Continue Reading>>
Op-Ed on Omid Kokabee and Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Program
Iranian physicist Omid Kokabee has been kept in prison since 2011 for his refusal to work on laser enrichment of uranium. Read the op-ed by Eugene Chudnovsky, Distinguished Professor of Physics, City University of New York (CUNY), and CCS Co-chair in The Washington Examiner: On January 30, 2011, Omid Kokabee, 28, was about to board a flight to the United States at Tehran airport. He was returning ... Continue Reading>>