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Legal Battle by Pinar Selek Depicting Climate of Intimidation

The fourteen-year-long cycle of trials and acquittals that has subjected Pınar Selek, a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Strasbourg, to prolonged denial of justice. Selek’s plight has also contributed to a climate of intimidation confronting all scholars, within and outside of Turkey, who wish to conduct research and writing on Kurdish issues.

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Hearings, suspensions, and arrests of university student activists

Letter to His Excellency Muhammad Husni Mubarak regarding hearings, suspensions, and arrests of university students belonging to the Kifaya movement or the Muslim Brotherhood. [Previous letter sent May 7, 2007]

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Concerns regarding the arrest of Professor Saad Eddin Ibrahim and staff members of the Ibn Khaldun Center

Letter to President Hosni Mubarak to express concerns regarding the arrest of Professor Saad Eddin Ibrahim and staff members of the Ibn Khaldun Center; voiced distress both at the manner in which the trial was conducted by the Supreme Security Court, and the unduly harsh sentences imposed on Professor Ibrahim and his colleagues.

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Further attacks on the academic freedom of Dr. Soroush

Second letter to Iranian Authorities regarding the case of Dr. Soroush and the threats and intimidation he is facing which not only reduce his academic freedom but also endanger his life, the most recent of which is the confiscation of his passport preventing him from attending major academic conferences. (See 31/1/1996)

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House arrest of prominent Tunisian academic

Letter to Tunisian Authorities protesting the treatment of Dr. Moncef Ben Salem, professor at the University of Sfax, who after being imprisoned for three years for criticizing the government for human rights abuses, is now under house arrest and subject to harassment and isolation.

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Human rights activist prevented from leaving country to attend award ceremony

Letter to Tunisian Authorities expressing concern over the decision to prevent Dr. Moncef Marzouki from attending the Human Rights Watch Award Ceremony in New York where he was to be awarded for his outstanding contributions to human rights as well as being under close governmental surveillance since his release from detention.

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Death of Iranian political activist while in detention

Letter to Iranian Authorities expressing grave concern over the reported death of activist Mr. Ali Akbar Saidi-Sirjani who died in detention after being held for eight months without trial or access to council under suspicious circumstances and urging the government to do an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

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Further detentions of Saudi human rights group members and relatives

Letter to the Saudi Arabian Government expressing continued concern over treatment of members of the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights as further academics with ties to this group have been arrested without criminal charges and are being held without visit or access to council. Additionally relatives of group members are now being targeted despite having no ties to the group solely as a means of pressuring activists to cease activities. (See 5/5/1994; 22/6/1993)

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Repressive measure intensified against members of human rights group

Letter to the Saudi Arabian government regarding further measures taken against members of the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights after the dissolution of the group including dismissals from university posts, travel bans, imprisonment and reports of death threat and torture forcing many group members to flee the country. (See 22/6/1993)

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Continued closure of Bir Zeit University

Letter to the Israeli Prime Minister expressing concern over the continuation of the closure of Bir Zeit University into its fourth consecutive year. Bir Zeit is the last university to remain closed and the students and faculty continue to be denied access to classes and educational facilities. (See 20/11/1990; 21/6/1990)

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