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Imprisoned Physicist Honored For Refusing To Work On Iran's Nuclear Program

Posted by Unknown on from the no-silex-for-you dept.

New submitter I3MOUNTAINS writes "Omid Kokabee, a University of Texas graduate student who has been imprisoned in Iran for more than two years, received the American Physical Society's Andrei Sakharov human rights prize for refusing to collaborate on the country's nuclear program. In May, an Iranian court sentenced him to ten years in prison for 'communicating with a hostile government' and receiving 'illegal earnings.' The so-called 'illegal earnings' were the student loans he received while in Texas."

7 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Guts by spamchang · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This guy has 'em. There are other ways to sacrifice for worthy principles than warfare.

    Hook 'em.

  2. So, how about... by Radagast · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Any prizes for Mordechai Vanunu?

    --
    --Joakim Ziegler
  3. Re:Questions by drkim · · Score: 5, Funny

    The article says he was studying lasers and optics. This makes him an unlikely choice for a nuclear anything program.

    Congratulation!

    You are the one-millionth poster on /. to post without reading the article! Great job! Keep up the good work!
    [Balloons drop] [Confetti mortars fire]

    "Iran has been pursuing a kind of uranium enrichment called SILEX which uses carbon dioxide lasers, the same kind of lasers that Kokabee was using in his graduate studies."

  4. Re:Questions by Swave+An+deBwoner · · Score: 4, Informative

    Answer to 2) is in TFM#1:

    Iran has been pursuing a kind of uranium enrichment called SILEX which uses carbon dioxide lasers, the same kind of lasers that Kokabee was using in his graduate studies.

    Answer to 1) took a few more Google cycles:

    Did you know that thousands of Iranian students study in the United States each year? In fact, for the past several years, the number of Iranian students studying in American colleges and universities has steadily grown such that Iran is now 22nd among the top 25 places of origin for international students.

    And, in recent months, President Obama and Secretary Clinton have announced big steps forward in promoting exchange and opportunity with the Iranian people. As Secretary Clinton announced in May 2011, (http://www.youtube.com/), new visa regulations now allow Iranian students to receive two-year, multiple entry visas. This gives young Iranians the opportunity to return home for family events, to participate in internships, to travel outside the United Statesâ"and they wonâ(TM)t need to get a new visa every time.

    You can find the quote here:
    http://iran.usembassy.gov/education.html

  5. Re:First! by durrr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, something that will never get nuked are that guys student loans.

  6. Re:Questions by mestar · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Iran is now 22nd among the top 25 places of origin for international students."

    Yes, yes, but how high is it among the top 100?

  7. Re:Questions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, obviously if they're 22nd among 25 they would be 88th among 100th.
    Really, it's depressing how down is math level in /. these days.