Allegations of torture against Ahmad Ibrahim Sa’id
Letter to Israeli Authorities regarding reports that Birzet University student Ahmad Ibrahim Sa’id who has been under arrest since June 1994 and been subjected to torture while in detention.
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- All Committee on Academic Freedom
Human rights activist prevented from leaving country to attend award ceremony
Letter to Tunisian Authorities expressing concern over the decision to prevent Dr. Moncef Marzouki from attending the Human Rights Watch Award Ceremony in New York where he was to be awarded for his outstanding contributions to human rights as well as being under close governmental surveillance since his release from detention.
Death of Iranian political activist while in detention
Letter to Iranian Authorities expressing grave concern over the reported death of activist Mr. Ali Akbar Saidi-Sirjani who died in detention after being held for eight months without trial or access to council under suspicious circumstances and urging the government to do an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Arrest of Saud University professors
Letter to the Saudi Ministry of the Interior over the arrest of professors Dr. Abdullah al-Hamed and Dr. Muhsin al-‘Awaji by the general intelligence agency as a result of their writings expressing political opinions.
Deteriorating state of academic freedom at Sanaa University
Letter to Yemenite Authorities regarding the recent intimidation of professors and university departments to not discuss political uses in the classroom or with students leading many professors to leave Sanaa due to the hostile atmosphere being created. Additionally the arrest and mistreatment of professors as a means of intimidation is in obvious violation of international human rights norms.
Arrest of student organizer of the Palestine International Festival
Letter to Israeli Prime Minister regarding the detention of Bir Zeit University student Abed Qattawi, one of the organizers of the Palestine International Festival who was detained by Israeli Military authorities.
Campaign against Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies
Letter to al-Ahram regarding the actions of the Egyptian Press attacking the Ibn Khaldun Center in connection with the Conference on the UN Declaration on Minorities and People of the Arab World and Middle East to have been held in Cairo.
Forced exile of Bahraini nationals for political reasons
Letter to Baharaini government regarding forcible exile of Mr. Ahmed Hussein Mirza Abdul Khaleeq without explanation for this expulsion and denial of his right to return to the country.
Further detentions of Saudi human rights group members and relatives
Letter to the Saudi Arabian Government expressing continued concern over treatment of members of the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights as further academics with ties to this group have been arrested without criminal charges and are being held without visit or access to council. Additionally relatives of group members are now being targeted despite having no ties to the group solely as a means of pressuring activists to cease activities. (See 5/5/1994; 22/6/1993)
Detention of Birzeit University students
Letter to Israeli Authorities regarding the detention of Birzeit University students including student activists and leaders some of whom are members of the campus Islamic Bloc and have been held without charges amidst allegations of lack of council and mistreatment.
Detention of Syrian academics for political reasons
Letter to Syrian Authorities to express concerns about the detention and mistreatment of academics in Syria for their political affiliations, opinions or participation in groups that government considers subversive.
Arrest and detention without bail of Professor Moncef Marzouki
Letter to Tunisian Authorities expressing concern over the imprisonment of Moncef Marzouki on the charge of spreading false information liable to disturb public order and insult authorities despite Marzouki denying making these claims.
Repressive measure intensified against members of human rights group
Letter to the Saudi Arabian government regarding further measures taken against members of the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights after the dissolution of the group including dismissals from university posts, travel bans, imprisonment and reports of death threat and torture forcing many group members to flee the country. (See 22/6/1993)
Arrest and detention of writer and academic Ali Akbar Saidi-Sirjani
Letter to the Iranian President expressing concern over the arrest Mr. Saidi-Sirjani, political dissident and outspoken critic of the government censorship in Iran with politically inspired drug charges.
Detention of Professor Tawfik Raji by Tunisian authorities
Letter to Tunisian President regarding the prolonged incommunicado detention of Tawfik Raji, Professor at the Sorbonne while on a visit to Tunisia possibly for political motives in contravention of Tunisian Law and International Law.
Violations of freedom of expression in Uzbekistan
Letter to the President of Uzbekistan concerning the dismissal and arrests of university professors and the closure of Tajik University.
Arrest and dismissals for founders of the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights
Letter to His Royal Majesty of Saudi Arabia concerning the reported arrest of Dr. Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Mas’ari and dismissals of Dr. Abdullah ibn Humoud al-Tuwaijri and Dr. Abdullah al-Hamed for membership in the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights.
Denial of promotion for Associate Professor Nasir Hamid Abi Zayd
Letter to the President of Cairo University regarding the denial of full professorship for Nasir Hamid Abi Zayd and encouraging an investigation into the case in order to reopen the consideration for promotion in order to ensure that intellectual freedom is upheld by Cairo University.
Government seizure of the Khartoum Branch of Cairo University
Letter to the Sudanese Head of State and Defense Minister regarding the presidential decree to revoke the license of the Khartoum Branch of the Cairo University. The campus has been renamed Nilein University and the Egyptian president has been replaced with a Sudanese president.
Destruction of Muslim educational institutions and cultural monuments in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Letter to the President of Yugoslavia expressing dismay over reported destruction of Muslim institutions and monuments by Serbian forces including an attack on the Institute for Oriental Studies in Sarajevo during which invaluable collections were destroyed.
Discriminatory policies directed at the Albanian citizens of Kosovo
Letter to the Yugoslavian President expressing concern over discriminatory policies which have resulted in Albanian professors and teachers losing their jobs and the closure of educational institutions in Kosovo which are acts of discrimination against the Albanian population of the city.
Proposed HaSharon campus of the University of New Haven in the West Bank settlement of Elkana
Letter to the President of the University of New Haven regarding their intent to open a campus in a location under Israeli military control which could serve to legitimize Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, would make it inaccessible to Palestinian students and faculty, and would violate international law undermining the peace process.
Human rights abuses affecting universities and academic personnel
Letter to Sudanese Head of State and Defense Minister expressing concern over the wide range of human rights abuses affecting academic freedom in Sudan including: dismissal of university professors and administrators, imprisonment and possible torture of university professors and students, closure, occupation or interference at university campuses by security forces and the Islamization or Arabization of universities.
Refusal of injunction to allow the AWSA to operate while awaiting the appeal outcome
Letter to the Egyptian President regarding the decree to dissolve the AWSA being upheld in the Judicial Courts and refused to grant an injunction to allow AWSA to continue operating while awaiting the outcome of its appeal. (See 18/2/1992; 16/9/1991)