Leading scientific societies in the United States are being challenged by critics who say the societies are curtailing their defense of individual cases of persecuted academics, the article states. Among others, Professors Eugene Chudnovsky, Joel Lebowitz, and Alexander Greer, who are CCS co-chairs as well as members of science human rights committees of associations in their own disciplines, welcomed the fact that the societies are broadening their activities to include scientific diplomacy, and trying to improve access to basic human rights such as clean water, food, health care and education. But they fear that this shift is reducing the emphasis on direct campaigning on behalf of individuals whose human rights have been violated.

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For the whole article, see: Human-rights shift under fire, Declan Butler, Nature, 7/27

According to persons interviewed, this shift goes back to 2007, when AAAS discontinued its emphasis on individual cases. Lately, NYAS and the ACS seem to have taken up this approach. The NYAS administration “doesn’t want to admit to itself that it is just being cowardly”, says Joel Lebowitz, director of the Center for Mathematical Sciences Research at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, and a member of the NYAS human rights committee. Scientific societies “should have a bit more backbone” when it comes to speaking out on human-rights abuses involving countries with which they collaborate, he said.

The group began in 1972 as an ad hoc committee of scientists based in New York City and Washington DC. It originally concentrated on helping Soviet colleagues, especially refusenik scientists. The term refusenik refers to citizens of the USSR who applied to leave the country and were denied exit visas. Most refusenik scientists were refused on the grounds of possessing “state secrets” that they might share with foreigners. They often lost their jobs at universities and research facilities and were barred from attending scientific conferences. Some were stripped of academic titles, forced to work in labor camps, or charged with parasitism when they could not find work. Persecution was especially harsh for Jewish scientists, who often faced anti-Semitism in addition to the refusenik stigma. The Committee argued that any secrets these scientists might possess were too insignificant and outdated to be of any threat to security and sent dozens of letters asking the country to change its emigration procedures. On a more immediate level, CCS members translated and published papers for refusenik scientists, subsidized subscriptions to scholarly publications, and visited the USSR under the guise of tourists to deliver books and offer moral support.

In 1988, CCS sponsored the Frontiers of Science Conference in Moscow. Held in the private apartments of refuseniks, the conference allowed scientists to present their research at a time when they were barred from most international meetings.

Although Eastern Europe was a major focus at first, CCS quickly expanded its reach and has monitored human rights violations in over seventy-five countries, protesting travel restrictions on Israeli scientists, the imprisonment of professors in China, and violence against students in Ethiopia, among many others.

The Committee often takes action by writing letters of protest directly to government officials and by sending alerts and contact information to other scientists, encouraging them to do the same. The group also contacts members of the United States Congress and the Executive Branch who can address human rights issues during diplomatic meetings. In the 1970s, CCS sent representatives to meetings of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE; also known as the Helsinki Commission), which monitors compliance with the Helsinki Final Act. The Committee reported to CSCE with information about the hardships faced by scientists, particularly refuseniks. The group may follow a case for years, repeatedly reminding officials of the violations in their country in the belief that international pressure will lead to change.

There have been many successes, particularly in freeing scientists from prisons and acquiring exit visas. The Committee also raises awareness among the scientific community by attending conferences, circulating petitions, and writing press releases. It helps persecuted scientists on an individual level when possible through calls, visits, and financial help.

via Committee of Concerned Scientists, records, 1970-2006 [bulk: 1974-2005], Columbia University Libraries.

Boris Weisfeiler in 1981

In 2010, Olga Weisfeiler and her son Lev arrived in Chile to resubmit Boris Weisfeiler’s case to the recently opened human rights commission, Comisión Asesora par la calificatión de Detenidos Desaparacidos, Ejecutados Politicos y Victimas de Prisión Politica y Tortura, in short La Comisión, for evaluation. The Commission’s work was presented to the President of Chile on August 18, 2011. No date is set yet by the President to make the Commission’s report public.

Contribute to the Boris Weisfeiler Legal Fund

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More information regarding Boris’ Weisfeiler disappearance in Chile is available at boris.weisfeiler.com

Boris Weisfeiler, who was a Professor of Mathematics at Penn State University, disappeared in Chile during his hiking trip in January 5, 1985. Ten days later his backpack was found on the riverbank of the Nuble River. In the Chilean press of those years there had been some speculation that Boris Weisfeiler was still alive and was being kept captive in the Colonia Dignidad, a German speaking religious colony with rumored nazi connections.

During the next fifteen years Boris’ family and friends unsuccessfully tried to find out what really happened with Boris but no any additional information was ever available.

Boris Weisfeiler on a hiking trip in 1978

According to the Chile Declassification Project, on June 30, 2000 the U.S. Department of State declassified more then 250 official documents related to the disappearance of Boris’ Weisfeiler. According to the released documents, the first information that Boris wasalive was received by the U.S. Embassy two or three weeks after his disappearance. A person came to the Embassy and told them that the disappeared American is alive. After that, according to the embassy’s communications: “the embassy received numerous official and unofficial reports about Weisfeiler is being held in the Colonia Dignidad”. The informant, who participated in the Boris’ arrest, personally saw him inside the Colonia Dignidad on a couple occasions and some other known by informant person saw Boris there in May-June of 1987. In 1987 the informant provided the information that Boris was brutally tortured there and was kept in animal-like condition.

All this information received by the U.S. Embassy in Chile was classified and kept sealed in the embassy’s files and the files of the U.S. Department of State. This made it impossible for the family to reopen the investigation and to find Boris.

Nevertheless, the Chilean lawyer Hernan Fernandez, who has been working on the case on the behalf of the Weisfeiler’ family for two and a half years, was able to reopen the case in the Chilean courts in January of 2000. Since October of 2000 the Chilean Supreme Court and judge Juan Guzman are handling for the case. In view of the current political climate in Chile this investigation may become lengthy and additional legal help will be needed to finally uncover what happened to Boris Weisfeiler.

Despite an anonymous letter received by U.S. Embassy in 1997, which claimed that Boris was shot and killed, there remains some possibility that Boris Weisfeiler is still alive and is living as the prisoner inside the Colonia Dignidad.

How you can help

The Committee of Concerned Scientists, whose member Boris used to be, set up The Boris Weisfeiler Legal Fund to provide a financial support for ongoing investigation.

The tax-deductible contributions can be made by writing checks to the Committee of Concerned Scientists, with an indication on the check that it is for the Weisfeiler Fund. They should be mailed to:

Committee of Concerned Scientists
c/o Sophie Cook
400 East 85th Street, Apt. 10K
New York, NY 10028
Tel: 212-362-4441

Contact CCS via email

Thank you for your support.

Graduate Student Omid Kokabee

CCS writes an open letter to Iran”s Ayatollah Khamene’i requesting release from jail of Omid Kokabee, Iranian graduate student in optics at the University of Texas, who had returned to Iran to visit family.

Read our letter:

July 14, 2011

His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamene’i The Supreme Leader, The Islamic Republic of Iran Tehran Your Eminence, Grand Ayatollah Ali Hoseyni Khamene’I:

We are writing to ask Your Eminence to correct a grave mistake made by the government officials in jailing Omid Kokabee, an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Texas – Austin. Mr. Kokabee was arrested at Tehran airport on a visit of his parents last winter. We were told that he was held at Evin prison and that he would soon stand trial on charges of “communicating with hostile government” and “illegitimate earnings”.

Learn More

Iranian physics student faces trial for spying, Nature, July 15, 2011

Missing physicist may have been jailed in Iran, Nature, May 16, 2011

Physics student awaits espionage trial in Iran, Physics World, July 15, 2011

We are an independent non-government organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars. Our contacts with Omid Kokabee’s professors and fellow students at the University of Texas, as well as at the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona, Spain, where Omid obtained his Masters Degree in optics before coming to Texas, all confirm that he was dedicated to his studies and refrained from engaging in politics. He was paid for his teaching assistantship within regular support package provided to all first-year U.S. and international doctoral students by the University of Texas and not by the United States Government or any of its agencies.

Some reports indicate that Mr. Kokabee might have been suspected in the exchange of information on nuclear technology. As scientists, we can assure you, that his research and studies had nothing to do with nuclear energy. His education and his Ph.D. project are in optics. He appears to be a talented young scientist whose studies have been interrupted for no good reason. If Omid is given opportunity to continue his research, he will be able to bring important skills and honor to your great country.

Imprisonment of Omid Kokabee and his upcoming trial have planted fear in the hearts of Iranian students that are currently studying abroad. Instead of bringing their skills and knowledge back to Iran, many of them are re-thinking their future in fear of reprisal on their return home. We trust that your wisdom will direct you to disperse this fear by promptly allowing Mr. Kokabee to return to his doctoral studies abroad and to travel freely to Iran, his native country.

Thank you for your consideration of this letter.

With our highest regards,

Eugene Chudnovsky
Alexander Greer
Joel Lebowitz
Walter Reich
Paul Plotz
Co-chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

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Hu Jia in April 2010

Hu Jia, a prominent Chinese dissident whose activism on behalf of the environment and AIDS sufferers landed him in prison for the last three and a half years, was released in the pre-dawn hours Sunday, June 18,  and returned to his home in Beijing.

CCS has been advocating for his release, supporting his family”s request for medical parole, in view of Hu Jia’s serious liver ailment.

Professor Emadeddin Baghi

CCS also welcomed the release of Professor Emadeddin Baghi, who was released after serving two concurrent one-year jail sentences for “propaganda against the state”. One related to his founding of the Association to Defend Prisoners’ Rights and the other to an interview broadcast by the BBC  together with the late government critic Grand Ayatollah Hosseinali-Monatazeri. He was also banned from any political activity for five years. CCS had repeatedly advocated on his behalf.

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Iran human rights activist speaks after release, Amnesty International, June 21, 2011

Alexandr Feduta

Aleksandr Feduta, a EHU (European Humanities University) lecturer and journalist, was arrested with hundreds of other opposition activists, including 11 EHU students, in the aftermath of the contested Belarusian presidential election on 19 December 2010.

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Belarusian Professor and Student sentenced to probation, Network for Education and Academic Rights

Feduta, a political activist, was a member of the Vladimir Nekliajev presidential election team. He was charged with Article 293 (mass riot), parts 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code of Republic of Belarus and faced a sentence of 5-15 years. On 20 May, Feduta was sentenced to two years probation by the Frunzenski District Court in Minsk. He has been recognized as prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

Professor Miguel Angel Beltran. Photo: TEU

Miguel Ángel Beltrán Villegas, the Colombian professor who was arrested in Mexico in 2009 and acquitted on Friday of accusations of being a member of the FARC, announced Wednesday he will resume teaching.

A city judge decided Friday that Beltrán would be allowed to go free, “given the inconsistencies (of the evidence),” referring to an earlier ruling that the “Raul Reyes” files were inadmissible as evidence and that it could not be proved without doubt that Beltran was the alias “Jaime Cienfuegos” mentioned in the FARC files.

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Acquitted ‘FARC ambassador’ to resume teaching, Colombia Reports, June 8, 2011

The professor was arrested in May 2009 in Mexico and subsequently extradited to Colombia, where he was accused by the administration of former President Alvaro Uribe of being part of the FARC’s International Committee and a close ally of the slain FARC commander “Raul Reyes,” before being held for two years without trial or conviction.

Read the letter:

President Alyaksandr Lukashenka
Administratsia Prezidenta Respubliki Belarus
ul.Karla Marksa, 38
220016 Minsk
BELARUS

March 7, 2011

Dear President Lukashenka:

We are an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world. We write now in grave concern for Alyaksandr Fyaduta.

Dr. Fyaduta, a scholar, journalist and lecturer at the European Humanities University, is currently imprisoned and has not been treated for injuries reportedly sustained during the protest and his severe diabetic condition which requires daily medical care. According to reports, Dr. Fyaduta was arrested at his home on December 20, 2010, and has reportedly been charged with Article 293, mass riot, an accusation that stems from Prof. Fyaduta’s involvement in a peaceful protest that took place in Minsk, Belarus in the aftermath of the most recent presidential election. We understand that, since his arrest, he has been held in custody without access to legal counsel or to medical care.

Most alarmingly, we are concerned about the lack of treatment of the injuries Dr. Fyaduta reportedly sustained during the protest and of his severe diabetic condition, which requires daily medical care. In light of this, his detention without access to counsel or adequate medical support would appear to constitute a reckless disregard of his health and well being. This suggests disregard of international standards of due process, fair trial and detention as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Belarus is signatory.

We respectfully urge you to ensure that Belarus’ obligations under international law are upheld with regard to Dr. Fyaduta, and that you intervene to ensure his well-being We urge you to intervene to ensure his well-being pending his earliest release, including ensuring immediate and regular access to family, to legal counsel of his choosing and to medical treatment.

Sincerely yours,

Joel L. Lebowitz
Paul H. Plotz
Walter Reich
Co-chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

Cc:
Ambassador Oleg Kravchenko
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus
1619 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009, USA
Fax: +1 202 986 1805
Email: usa@belarusembassy.org and
politics@belarusembassy.org

Assistant Secretary Philip H. Gordon
Bureau ot European and Eurasian Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520, USA

Assistant Secretary Michael H. Posner
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520, USA