Comprehensive: Academic freedom hearsay worldwide

In Turkey, in an ongoing operation against Kurdish political parties, two scholars have been arrested and charged under the law against terrorism, but there are concerns about fair trial standards. In the Philippines, educators and activists fear for their lives after the brutal murder of a university vice president and climbing given - apparently for political reasons - the attacks and murders. In Bahrain, have expressed concerns about the fairness of the trial of a teacher arrested and suspended from office amid a broader attack on academic freedom. In Laos rights groups are demanding the release of political prisoners, including four student leaders remain in prison 12 years after they were crushed protests in the country. And climate change American scientist has hailed as a victory for academic freedom and science a court ruling to deny access to a professional industry thought their private emails.

TURKEY: Anti-Terror Law - Academic arrested, accused

Two scholars have been arrested and charged under the law against terrorism, a massive operation aimed at Kurdish political parties in Istanbul, International PEN reported on 2 November.

Political scientist and expert in constitutional law Professor Buras Resale and prominent political activist Raga Zarakolu were arrested on October 28 for the operation of an office of the chief prosecutor of Istanbul directed the political party, the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK ).

They were arrested with 41 others, including journalists, writers and members of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy (BDP), which focused on the Kurdish issue.

The arrests are part of a wider operation, started in 2009 and still in progress, aimed at Kurdish political parties, including the KCK.

According to Oscan Kılıç, Resale and Zarakolu's lawyer, academics were arrested in connection with the lectures he gave at the Academy BDP.

PEN, an organization in which Zarakolu is among the leaders in Turkey, announced that the two were charged under the terrorism, and added that these charges were related to the exercise of their right to freedom of expression.

Resale, working at Marmara University in Istanbul, is a member of BDP. She sits on the constitutional committee of the party, with the aim of drafting a new constitution, and part of its meeting. She was to have attended a conference on "controversial issues in the history of the Turkish Republic" Istanbul Bilge University on October 29.