AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

AAAS Action Alerts

The AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program calls attention to human rights abuses involving scientists and scientific communities through the circulation of Action Alerts issued by professional associations on behalf of their colleagues or by human rights organizations.

Cases that are publicized through the Action Alerts are researched and developed by the association or organization that submits the call for action. The alerts provide important background information on the case(s), and recommend specific actions to support the victim(s) of human rights abuse. The Action Alerts reach hundreds of AAAS members and other concerned scientists and engineers who are a part of SRHRL's network.

2010 Action Alerts

The Scholars at Risk Network is concerned over reports that Professor Richard Shapiro, a scholar and professor of anthropology, was recently denied permission to enter India. On November 4, SAR issued a letter urging authorities to inquire into the matter and to explain publicly the circumstances of any restrictions on Professor Shapiro's travel or, if there are no official restrictions, to expedite approval of any future travel requests.

Background

Professor Shapiro is Chair of the Department of Anthropology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, where he is an Associate Professor. It is understood that on November 1st, Professor Shapiro traveled to India with his wife, Professor Angana Chatterji, whose research focuses on India and South Asia and who was traveling to India in order to further her academic and human rights-related work there. Professor Chatterji, a well-known and frequent visitor to the region, was granted entry to India while her husband, Professor Shapiro, was prevented from entering the country.  Reports indicate that no legal basis was given for the decision to deny his entry. It is understood that Professor Shapiro was in possession of a valid passport and visa. Given that Professor Shapiro's work focuses neither on South Asia nor India, it appears that his right to travel has been restricted in an attempt to intimidate his wife, Professor Chatterji, and to discourage her from continuing her academic work in India.

Free exchange of ideas is one of the most basic human rights and values of all academic communities. Freedom of travel is one of the most important avenues for furthering such exchange among academic colleagues. Recognizing this, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which India has ratified, protects freedom of expression, right to travel and scientific exchange. Public reports that Professor Shapiro was denied without reason permission to enter India to accompany his wife as she pursues academic work there suggests that these rights have not been respected. Moreover, in the absence of any publicly expressed, legitimate grounds for doing so, the apparent restricting of Professor Shapiro's entry despite his possession of a valid visa and entry stamp raises uncertainty not only about his ability to engage with colleagues in his field in India, but also about the ability of other scholars to plan for and undertake research in India.

Scholars at Risk therefore respectfully urges Indian authorities to investigate the situation and to explain publicly the circumstances of any restrictions on Professor Shapiro's travel or, if there are no official restrictions, to expedite approval of any future travel requests.

To view a copy of SAR's letter of appeal, please visit their website: www.scholarsatrisk.org.

This Action Alert was posted by the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program on behalf of the Scholars at Risk Network. SRHRL has not independently verified its contents.

The Scholars at Risk Network urges action on behalf of Professor Pham Minh Hoang of Vietnam.

Background
Scholars at Risk (SAR) is concerned about the arrest and detention of Professor Pham Minh Hoang, a mathematics lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic Institute. SAR asks for letters, faxes and emails urging authorities to disclose Professor Hoang's current location, examine the circumstances of Professor Hoang's detention and, pending his release, ensure his access to medical care, family and legal counsel.

Professor Hoang is a lecturer of mathematics at Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic Institute. Scholars at Risk has learned that Professor Hoang was arrested on August 13, 2010 on charges of participating in a banned opposition political group, the Viet Tan. According to media reports, the arrest followed the interrogation two days earlier of Professor Hoang and his wife at a police station in Ho Chi Minh City, where they were questioned on their alleged affiliations with the Viet Tan, allegations Professor Hoang's wife denies. Scholars at Risk understands that Professor Hoang was taken to an undisclosed location where he has been since held without access to family or his lawyer.

Professor Hoang's arrest raises concerns of retaliation against a scholar for the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights of free expression and association, which are guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is party.

Scholars at Risk therefore joins with the many national and international academic associations, human rights organizations and individual scholars that respectfully urge that the government of Vietnam examine the circumstances of Professor Hoang's detention and disclose his location. SAR urges authorities to intervene to ensure his well-being including ensuring immediate and regular access to legal counsel of his choosing, to family and to any necessary medical treatment. Given the public reports surrounding Professor Hoang's detention, we further urge authorities to explain publicly the reasons for his detention or absent this, to arrange for his earliest release.

To view a copy of SAR's letter of appeal, please visit our website: www.scholarsatrisk.org.

This Action Alert was posted by the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program on behalf of the Scholars at Risk Network. SRHRL has not independently verified its contents.