Arash Alaei, a pioneering HIV and AIDS doctor, has been released from an Iranian prison, his family said Sunday Aug. 28. Both he and his brother, Kamiar Alaei, who is also a doctor, were arrested in 2008. They were charged with "communication with an enemy government" and for trying to "overthrow the government," according to Kamiar. ... Continue Reading>>
Sign a Petition for the Release of Drs. Haberal and Hilmioglu from Prison in Turkey
The Committee of Concerned Scientists has created a petition for the release of Drs. Haberal and Hilmioglu from prison in Turkey. Click here to sign the petition. Help us reach our goal of 1,000 signatures. ... Continue Reading>>
Health Professionals in Bahrain: Arrested and Disappeared
CCS wrote to the Prime Minister of Bahrain to protest the treatment of health professionals in Bahrain. Following their ethical duty to treat protesters, nurses and doctors have been arrested and disappeared. ... Continue Reading>>
Good News for Dr. Binayak Sen
The Supreme Court of India granted bail in April, 2011 to Dr. Binayak Sen, observing that no case of sedition was made out against the human rights activist, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in Chhattisgarh State. CCS had advocated on behalf of Dr. Sen, who had set up clinics for impoverished and minority people in his province. ... Continue Reading>>
Dr. Binayak Sen Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
On Dec. 25, 2010, Dr. Binyak Sen, a pioneer of health care to poor and indigenous communities in Chhattisgarh state and a human rights activist, was convicted of sedition and conspiracy under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Safety Act, 2005, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 2004 by a state court. According to Amnesty International, Dr. Sen was convicted ... Continue Reading>>
Cuban Dissident Released
Darsi Ferrer, the director of the Juan Bruno Zayas Health and Human Rights Centre, was convicted on 22 June on spurious charges of receiving illegally obtained goods and "violence or intimidation against a state official" and sentenced to one year's imprisonment and three months' "correctional work" outside the prison. As he had already been imprisoned for almost a year he was immediately ... Continue Reading>>
Pro-democracy Syrian medical professionals complete prison terms
Syrian dentist Ahmad To’meh and medical doctors Walid al-Bunni, Feda’a al-Horani, and Yasser al-‘Eiti were released after having served 30 months in prison for their involvement with the National Council of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change—an organization comprised of representatives of opposition political parties and pro-democracy groups in Syria. On October 29, 2008, ... Continue Reading>>
Ergenekon Trials in Turkey of Academics
Dr. Mehmet Haberal, an internationally respected transplant surgeon and rector of Bashkent University, and Dr. Ferit Bernay, a medical doctor and former rector of 19 Mayis University, are among 194 people who are on trial for allegedly attempting to overthrow the democratically elected government by violence -- serious charges that could lead to several life sentences In addition, 10 other ... Continue Reading>>
Binayak Sen
On May 25, 2009, India's Supreme Court granted Dr. Binayak Sen unconditional release on bail. Dr. Sen, a medical doctor, and his wife, Ilina, are at Christian Medical College in Vellore receiving medical care. Although Dr. Sen is out of prison on bail, his trial continues. After 16 months, he has not yet been allowed to present his defense and a third charge was recently filed against ... Continue Reading>>
Cuba: doctor arrested
Dr. Darsi Ferrer and his wife, Yusnaymi Jorge Soca, were arrested in July, according to human rights advocates, the day before they planned to lead a demonstration in Havana. Dr. Ferrer is the Director of the Juan Bruno Zayas Center for Health and Human Rights in Havana. An Afro-Cuban medical professional, Dr. Ferrer established the center to offer medical attention to extremely poor Cubans who ... Continue Reading>>