Middle East Studies Association of North America, Inc.
3542 N. Geronimo Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85705
520 333-2577 phone
520 207-3166 fax
Letter to Sudanese officials regarding the arrest of thirty-three women on 1 December 1997, who were members of the Sudanese Women Association and the Mothers of the Sudanese Students Union. They organized a march to the UN headquarters in Khartoum protesting the forcible conscription of students and to deliver a memorandum to the UN representative.
Letter to TOEFl regarding the new policy that effectively prohibits students from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, and North Korea from taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This test is required for gaining admission to universities in US, Canada and Hong Kong.
Letter to Israeli authorities regarding the arrest on December 10, 1997 and continuous torture of a Palestinian student from Birzeit University.
Letter to Israeli Authorities expressing concern over the strict closures of the West Bank and Gaza Strip causing disruptions to institutions of higher education as well as the harassment of Gazan students in the West Bank including arbitrary denials, delays or non-renewals of student permits.
Second letter to Iranian Authorities regarding the case of Dr. Soroush and the threats and intimidation he is facing which not only reduce his academic freedom but also endanger his life, the most recent of which is the confiscation of his passport preventing him from attending major academic conferences. (See 31/1/1996)
Letter to Tunisian Authorities protesting the treatment of Dr. Moncef Ben Salem, professor at the University of Sfax, who after being imprisoned for three years for criticizing the government for human rights abuses, is now under house arrest and subject to harassment and isolation.
Letter to the Palestinian Authority expressing concern over the arrest and treatment of Al-Azhar University Professor Dr. Fathi Ahmed Subh who is being held in detention without access to a lawyer or visits from family.
Letter to Egyptian authorities regarding the arrest of Dr. Ahmad al-Ahwaney and continued detention on the charges of preparing documents for distribution to destabilize public order despite his denial of these charges.
Letter to Bahraini Authorities regarding the dismissal of Prof. Zahra Isa Al-Zeera for expressing views that allegedly threaten the security of state; part of a situation of deteriorating human rights and academic freedom in Bahrain.
Letter to Israeli Prime Minister expressing concern over the treatment of Abd al-Aziz Hamdan, a student at Birzeit University who is being subjected to “moderate physical pressures” during interrogations by Israeli authorities in violation of the UN Convention against Torture.
Letter to Israeli authorities in response to letter from Capt. Caroline B. Glick (Oct. 9), a reply to the MESA letter of 9/12/96, concerning the denial of permits for Gaza students to study in the West Bank which fails to adequately address the concerns raised about the violation of students’ legal rights and freedom of education.
Letter to Israeli Authorities regarding the continued violations against Palestinian students studying in the occupied territories including denials of permits, the continued closure of Hebron University, use of force by the IDF against students, and administrative detentions of students.
Letter to Israeli Authorities expressing concern over the difficulties Gaza students continue to face in attempting to obtain permits to study in West Bank Universities and that for the 1996-1997 no permits have been issued to students who have applied for them.
Second Letter to Egyptian Authorities regarding Court of Cassation ruling supporting the order to forcibly divorce Professor Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd and his wife, Professor Ibtihal Yunis. (See 7/3/1995)
Letter to the Palestinian Authority concerning the detention of 10 students since March 1996 without charge or trial and the involvement of the Palestinian High Court in reviewing the case.
Letter to Israeli Military Authorities regarding the protracted detention of Birzeit student Ibrahim Said and subjection to coercive measures including sleep deprivation, position abuse and prolonged isolation.
Letter to Egyptian Authorities regarding the arrest and imprisonment of university professors accused of founding the illegal political party al-Wasat.
Letter to the Palestinian Authority regarding Palestinian security forces raiding Al-Najah University during a student press conference as well as the detention of student Adeeb Muhammad Ziadeh.
Letter to the Israeli Military Authority regarding the closure of the road between Ramallah and Birzeit causing severe difficulties for students, faculty and staff of Birzeit University to reach the university leading to a violent clash between protesting students and the army.
Letter to Tunisian Authorities expressing concern over reports of arrest, torture and imprisonment of 24 students in the wake of demonstrations on the grounds of offending the leader of the revolutions and committing acts against the revolution.
Letter to Iranian Government expressing concern over the attack on Dr. Abdul-Karim Sorush by a group at the University where he was to deliver a lecture to students on mysticism as well as other threats, intimidation on infringements of his academic freedom.
Letter to the French Government regarding the administrative order forbidding the importation of the book Livre Blanc, which discusses abuses and repression by the security forces of Algeria, into France.
Letter to Yemeni Authorities regarding intimidation of academics before and after attending a conference on Yemen held at the London School of Economics and their being labeled as traitors and separatists.
Letter to Israeli Authorities regarding the upcoming release of Yasin Farraj and requesting that he be released as schedule and not have his detention extended for a fourth time.
Letter to Sudanese Authorities expressing concern over the arrest of 22 people, including students and violence against student demonstrations protesting the arrests as part of a harsh crackdown on all forms of student dissent.