June 13, 2008

His Excellency Idriss Déby
President of the Republic of Chad
Embassy of Chad in the United States of America
2002 R Street NW, Washington DC 20009

Honorable President Déby,

I am writing to express the concern of the New York Academy of Sciences' Committee on Human Rights of Scientists regarding the whereabouts of Professor Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh. Our understanding is that Professor Saleh was arrested on February 3, 2008 and no information has been released about the arrest or where he is being detained.

If he is in the custody of your government, we are seeking assurances that he is not being tortured or ill-treated in detention; that he is granted regular access to his family, legal counsel and any necessary medical attention. If other forces are responsible for his disappearance, we ask that you ensure a proper investigation be promptly carried out to establish his whereabouts.

The New York Academy of Sciences, founded in 1817, has more than 25,000 members in more than 140 countries. The Academy is an independent, non-profit scientific and educational organization committed to advancing science and engineering; as well as applying science and technology for the public good. The Committee on Human Rights of Scientists of the New York Academy of Sciences actively pursues the advancement of basic human rights for our colleagues throughout the world. The Committee uses the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, as guidelines for its human rights activities.

I respectfully await your response to our inquiry.

Sincerely,

Henry Greenberg
Chair of the Committee on Human Rights of Scientists