The length of time he has been held without trial is concerning, but it seems right to me terror suspects are denied bail. There is also one very questionable passage in the Dittmar article:

"He was arrested...apparently because he had
participated in Internet discussion groups. We do
not know the details of these discussions, but
obviously this alone does not make him a terrorist."

If the charge is "conspiracy with a terrorist organisation", then the content of those discussions could well be enough to determine his guilt.

"Instead of the media writing articles about
the right to freedom of speech, however,
they preferred to focus on absurd accusations."

Freedom of speech doesn't mean that you can say whatever you like. Rights go hand in hand with responsibilities, even though this often seems to be forgotten. Perhaps some headline writers went a bit over the top, but that doesn't change the fact that he was arrested on suspicion of terror-related activities, which is what the papers reported.

"It is ridiculous to even think that Hicheur
was an Al-Qaeda terrorist attempting
to attack military installations in France."

Why? Because Dittmar doesn't want it to be true? This is a vacuous statement.

What's happening to Hicheur is probably perfectly legal, though repulsive, probably under "strengthened" anti-terrorism laws. If that is the case, then the best thing to do is to use international pressure on the French authorities, especially by professional associations, scientific institutions, human rights organizations and prestigious personalities. At least, that seems to have worked in the case of political prisoners under dictatorial regimes. But it may take quite some time, and he may well end up expelled from the country (still much better than being in prison, of course).

Thank you Tommaso for broadcasting this story via your blog.
What's happening to Adlen Hicheur is unacceptable and all his colleagues and people who know him are surprised and alarmed by the inhumane treatment he is facing.
The french failed to give anything showing his guilt. He is detained "provisionally" or "just in case" since months..
The situation is ridiculous... his only guilt is that he's half Algerian.

and ***, if he really wanted to do something, he wouldn't use a public forum or whatever they are claiming... he's not that stupid ! what was meant to be a political move (the timing of his arrest was fine-tuned with political considerations) is becoming more and more dangerous for his health and life.

As you say, It should be the concern of any of us who love freedom and justice. The scientific community first. The least we can do is to spread the awareness about his situation.

Thanks again for showing such high ethics and commitments Tommaso. Much appreciated.

ps.
It is ironic that the French "elite" are appalled by how DSK is treated here in the US where he's facing obvious criminal charges (although innocent until proven guilty) and at the same time do not utter a word when it comes to their malfunctioning justice. Le monde a l'envers.... !
liberte, egalite, et fraternite ..... a la francaise, de pures slogans creux.

Do you have any reply to the below?

A Franco-Algerian nuclear scientist goes on trial on Thursday for allegedly plotting terror attacks in France, where an Islamist's killing spree has already overshadowed the presidential campaign.

A week after police shot dead Franco-Algerian Mohamed Merah for killing seven people in and around Toulouse, Adlene Hicheur goes on trial charged with criminal association as part of a terrorist enterprise.

French police arrested Hicheur, a researcher studying the universe's birth - the Big Bang - at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), in October 2009 after intercepting emails he wrote.

Following his arrest at his parents' home near CERN, which lies on the Franco-Swiss border northwest of Geneva, police discovered a trove of al-Qaeda and Islamic militant literature.

France's DCRI domestic intelligence agency's suspicions were raised following a statement from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) that was sent to President Nicolas Sarkozy's Elysee Palace in early 2008.

Police carried out surveillance on several email accounts including Hicheur's and his exchanges with Mustapha Debchi, an alleged AQIM representative living in Algeria.

On March 1, 2009, Hicheur wrote an email to Debchi saying he would 'propose ... possible objectives in Europe and particularly in France'.

On March 10, he continued: 'Concerning the matter of objectives, they differ depending on the different results sought after the hits. For example: if it's about punishing the state because of its military activities in Muslim countries - Afghanistan - then it should be a purely military objective. For example: the air base at Karan Jefrier near Annecy in France. This base trains troops and sends them to Afghanistan.'

Hicheur was referring to a French military base at Cran-Gevrier, close to CERN.

In June 2009, Debchi asked Hicheur: 'Don't beat around the bush: are you prepared to work in a unit becoming active in France?'

Hicheur replied on June 6: 'Concerning your proposal, the answer is of course YES but there are a few observations: ... if your proposal relates to a precise strategy - such as working in the heart of the main enemy's house and emptying its blood of strength - then I should revise the plan that I've prepared.'

Magistrates investigating the case said the exchanges 'crossed the line of simple debate of political or religious ideas to enter the sphere of terrorist violence'.

today the result of the trial (first grade) came out.
court has sentenced him to five years in prison.
I think many of your reader would like to hear your opinion

D