Unjustly persecuted scientists
Name(s):
Unfairly imprisoned doctors
Wrongfully detained scientists
Unwarranted arrest of medical practitioners
Tortured scientists
Nature
As those associated with scientific and medical associations are increasingly involved in human rights issues, they may consequently become targets of persecution and violence. Some are imprisoned simply because of the nature of their work, and others because of direct opposition to their government.
Background
One of the earliest organized campaigns to liberate unjustly detained scientists was directed at Soviet scientists sent to labour camps in Siberia in the late 1970's.
Incidence
A 1992 USA report showed 41 engineers; 24 doctors, dentists, and nurses; and 8 scientists imprisoned in Libya. The count in Burma was 7 doctors, 3 dentists, 2 physicists, 1 surgeon, 1 mathematician, 1 botanist and 1 engineer. The Syrian government imprisoned 92 people working in health-related occupations. According to the report, some of the above mentioned prisoners had been in detention for more than 10 years, and many had been tortured.
Aggravates
Secrecy in scientific research [in 3 loops]
Destruction of scientific records [in 2 loops]
Inhibited scientific investigation [in 7 loops]
Limitation of current scientific knowledge [in 11 loops]
Aggravated by
Reduced by
Value(s)
Type
(E) Emanations of other problems