Middle East Studies Association

Iran

May 12, 2025
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter to Protest the Unjust Detention of Students Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi for the Past Five Years

Our letter calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Iranian students Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi, who were denied fair trials and have been unjustly imprisoned for five years on baseless charges and subjected to mistreatment. In addition, the letter urges President Pezeshkian to uphold his campaign promises by protecting students' rights and academic freedom. It also highlights the broader crackdown on students in Iran, especially following the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, during which thousands faced arrests, suspensions, and disciplinary actions.

March 06, 2025
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter protesting the ongoing unjust incarceration of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali

Our tenth letter to express our outrage and deep concern, and demand the release from prison of the dual national (Iranian-Swedish) Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali who has been detained on false charges for nine years and condemned to death on the basis of a forced confession.

May 01, 2024
Committee on Academic Freedom

Sedigheh Vasmaghi released from Prison

CAF welcomes the recent news that Islamic scholar Sedigheh Vasmaghi was released from Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison on Monday.

April 11, 2024
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter protesting the arrest of Prof. Sedigheh Vasmaghi in Iran

Our letter to the Iranian authorities protesting the politically motivated arrest of Prof. Vasmaghi, a renowned scholar of theology, from her home in March 2024, and her transfer to Evin Prison, violating her basic rights.

April 08, 2024
Committee on Academic Freedom

Profiles of Dismissed Iranian Academics

Profiles of Iranian academics who have been dismissed from their university positions since the beginning of the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi in 2021 through the Woman, Life, Freedom nationwide movement in 2022-2023 when Iranian universities emerged as centers of activism.

February 15, 2024
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter protesting dismissals of university professors

Our letter to Iranian government authorities objecting to the ongoing attacks on academic freedom in Iran since September 2022 and specifically, the politically motivated dismissals of and other punitive measures taken against university professors who have supported their students' freedom of expression and right to engage in peaceful protest

August 16, 2023
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter protesting punitive measures against Iranian women students

Our letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the ongoing harassment of Iranian women students and the imposition of punitive measures against them if they appear to defy the hijab laws or show solidarity with protestors.

March 20, 2023
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter regarding poisonings at girls’ schools and women’s dormitories

Our letter to Iranian authorities to condemn the persistent and widespread attacks by poisoning at girls' schools and women's college dormitories and call for an impartial and transparent investigation into their origins and bring the perpetrators to justice. From the initial attacks in November 2022 until today, more than 7000 students from across the country have been impacted and a climate of fear and insecurity prevails.

January 12, 2023
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter to Iranian Authorities on behalf of Dr. Saeed Madani

Our letter protesting the unjust imprisonment of Iranian scholar and researcher, Professor Saeed Madani

October 06, 2022
Committee on Academic Freedom

Recent Attacks by Iranian Authorities on Civilian Protests

Letter to Iranian authorities condemning recent attacks on academic institutions, students and teachers protesting government violence & repression.

May 12, 2022
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter regarding order of execution for Ahmadreza Djala

Ninth letter to the government of Iran regarding the worrisome circumstances of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, incarcerated since April 2016 on false charges and sentenced to death. This time, we urge the rescinding of the judiciary's order of execution expected to occur by 21 May 2022.

March 11, 2022
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter objecting to recent dismissal of Iranian university professors

Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the recent dismissals of Iranian university professors.

March 09, 2022
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter protesting the reimprisonment of Prof. Fariba Adelkhah

Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the reimprisonment of Prof. Fariba Adelkhah.

August 19, 2021
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter to Iranian authorities calling for immediate release of imprisoned conservationist, Niloufar Bayani

Letter to Iranian authorities calling for the immediate release of conservationist, Niloufar Bayani, who is serving a 10-year sentence on dubious charges and is experiencing declining health. Bayani has contracted the Covid-19 virus in prison and has been sent to a quarantine isolation ward with inadequate medical support.

July 14, 2021
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter protesting the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Dr. Parviz Tarikhi in Iran

Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Dr. Parviz Tarikhi for scholarly research on peaceful uses of space.

March 15, 2021
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter protesting the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Touraj Amini in Iran

Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Touraj Amini for scholarly research on Qajar history and Iranian Constitutional movement.

December 14, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Protesting the unjust prosecution, sentencing, and prolonged detention of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran

Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the unjust prosecution, sentencing, and prolonged detention of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali for unfounded allegations of espionage in Iran.

December 01, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Letter protesting the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Prof. Sedigheh Vasmaghi in Iran

Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Prof. Sedigheh Vasmaghi for her peaceful protests against police brutality, and the banning of her books in Iran.

November 30, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Australian-British dual national Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert released from Iranian prison

MESA is pleased to report that Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert was released from prison on November 25, 2020 after 804 days' detention in Iran, and has returned to Australia.

September 22, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Concern for detained students in Iran pressured into making televised false confessions

Letter to Iranian authorities protesting students' detention, and reports according to which they are being pressured into making televised false confessions in order to escape the death penalty.

August 05, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Concern for the safety of Australian-British dual national Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert imprisoned in Iran

Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the transfer of Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert from Evin to Qarchak prison and expressing grave concern for her safety and well-being.

May 19, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Concern regarding the well-being of Australian-British dual national Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert imprisoned in Iran

Letter to Iranian authorities expressing our grave concern over the well-being of Australian-British dual national, Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2018.

March 16, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Calling for immediate release of Niloufar Bayani and her conservationist colleagues from Iran’s prison

Letter to Iranian authorities calling for the immediate release of Niloufar Bayani and her conservationist colleagues given the abusive detention practices and due process failures of their imprisonment.

March 05, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Calling on Iranian authorities to immediately release Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal

Letter to Iranian authorities calling for the immediate release of Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal amid their personal health crisis and deteriorating health conditions in the country’s prisons.

February 03, 2020
Committee on Academic Freedom

Concerns regarding Fariba Adelkhah’s hunger strike and the health of Roland Marchal detained in Iran

Letter to Iranian authorities expressing alarm over the health and well-being of French academics Drs. Adelkhah and Marchal detained in Iran.

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