Serkan Golge, a 36-year-old physicist and research scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States, has been detained in Turkey since August of last year, and charged with involvement with the Gülen movement and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). No credible evidence has been presented to back up these charges. In the absence of evidence, Mr. ... Continue Reading>>
Professor of Law and Former Head of Sociology Department at Gediz University Arrested
Dr. İştar Gözaydın, a professor of law and politics and former head of the Department of Sociology at Gediz University, was relieved of her position at Gediz University in Turkey. She was then arrested in December when Gediz University was closed in July under the current “State of Emergency”. Dr. Gözaydın was arrested on December 28, and charged with being a member of an armed terror ... Continue Reading>>
Committee of Concerned Scientists and Endangered Scholars Worldwide Advocate for NASA Scientist Arrested in Turkey
NASA Physicist, Serkan Golge, a 36-year old American citizen, was arrested while visiting Turkey and charged as being complicit with the Gulen movement, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization that was complicit with the coup attempt that took place in July. The Committee of Concerned Scientists and Endangered Scholars Worldwide have issued a Joint Appeal asking for Golge’s release and ... Continue Reading>>
Call for Solidarity: 44 Turkish Academics Who Signed the ‘Peace Petition’ Terminated from Their Jobs, Additionally, Over 2300 Turkish Academics Targeted Following Failed Coup
The academics who signed the Peace Petition prior to the coup attempt in Turkey have now been linked by the State with those who perpetrated the Coup. The signers noted they they had nothing to do with the coup, did not agree with it, did not participate in it and that their action well preceded the coup situation. Their petition was done in the open and sent to the authorities. It was not ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Requests Help Addressing Mass Arrests, Detentions and Suspensions in Turkey
As many are aware, on June 15 there was a coup attempt in Turkey. The Committee of Concerned Scientists has denounced the attempt by the Turkish military to seize power from the democratically elected leaders. As an organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars, dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of colleagues around the world, we also are greatly ... Continue Reading>>
Sebnem Korur Fincanci and Colleagues Released, but Charges Not Dropped
Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, President of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and professor at Istanbul University, has been released from prison, along with her two colleagues. However, the charges against them have not been dropped. These charges could result in 14 years in prison. CCS has requested that the Turkish authorities drop all charges against Dr. Fincanci and her ... Continue Reading>>
A Petition in Support of Turkish Academics Facing Job Loss and Arrest
Please support Turkish academics who have been terminated from their positions and arrested for signing a petition to encourage a peaceful handling of the Kurdish population. Our Previous Activities CCS Turkish Archive Hundreds of Turkish academics face prison terms and expulsion from their universities for exercising their freedom of speech. We appeal to academics of all countries to stand ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Scholars Arrested, Investigated and Fired from Jobs for Signing Petition
Over 1100 Turkish scholars signed a petition requesting better treatment of the Kurds and asking for a peaceful settlement of the Kurdish situation. Many of those who signed the petition were terminated from their jobs, detained on criminal charges, and investigated. Four scholars have been arrested. CCS has written to President Erdogan requesting that he intercede and release the professors who ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Professor Received Two Year Sentence Over Headscarf Ban
Dr. Rennan Pekunlu, a professor of astrophysics at Ege University in Turkey was sentenced to two years in jail over charges that he stopped students that were wearing headscarves from attending classes. Dr. Pekunlu denies the charges and says that he was only telling students that they were violating the ban on wearing headscarves at Universities. The ban was lifted in 2010. His lawyer, Fatih ... Continue Reading>>
Turkey Prosecutes Leaders of Organizations Involved in Gezi Protests, Scientists Included
Criminal trials have started against many of the organizations included in peaceful protests in 2011. Included are the leaders of associations of medical, engineering and architects. According to Amnesty International, the indictment charging these defendants does not contain any evidence of participation in or incitement to violence or any other criminal activity. CCS wrote to urge dismissal of ... Continue Reading>>