Arrest and detention of Dr. Kameel Ahmady
Letter to Iranian authorities on behalf of Dr. Kameel Ahmady, protesting his arrest and detention on the basis of what appear to be politically motivated charges.
Contact CAF
Middle East Studies Association of North America, Inc.
3542 N. Geronimo Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85705
520 333-2577 phone
520 207-3166 fax
- Palestine/Israel
End probationary measures on PhD student Walid Salem
Letter to the Egyptian government requesting that it end all probationary measures placed on University of Washington doctoral student, Walid Salem -- who was released from prison in December 2018 after 6 months in detention without any charges against him -- and allow him to travel freely and continue his work.
Alarm over Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali’s transfer to an undisclosed location and threats of execution
Fifth letter to Iranian authorities on behalf of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, expressing alarm over his recent transfer to an undisclosed location, raising new threats of torture and execution.
Resources on Academic Freedom
A list of resources and links to websites related to academic freedom.
Arrest and detention of Dr. Fariba Adelkhah
Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the detention and unsubstantiated accusation of espionage of Dr. Fariba Adelkhah.
Limitations and restrictions to foreign nationals teaching at Palestinian universities
Letter demanding Israel lift the restrictions preventing international academics from staying and working in the West Bank, refrain from imposing arbitrary restrictions on the duration of stay or extension of stay for international academics, and order the publication of a clear and lawful procedure for issuing entry visas and work permits for international academics in the West Bank, to enable the university to manage and maintain its academic freedom.
New evidence in investigation of murder of PhD student Giulio Regeni
Letter demanding that the Egyptian government investigate new information provided by Italian authorities on suspects in the murder of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni and end government obstruction of the investigation into his death.
Response from AUC Provost to June 7 letter
AUC Provost Ehab Abel-Rahman responds to CAF's letter regarding the termination of the Abdulhadi H. Taher Endowed Chair.
Discouraging collaborations between SOAS and the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK)
Letter acknowledging SOAS for cancelling an event organized by the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and calling upon SOAS and other reputable institutions to refrain from collaborating with YÖK as long as the current climate of repression for academics persists in Turkey.
Threats against Iraqi academics highlighting cases of corruption
Letter to Iraqi authorities expressing concern over the threats made against academics who highlight cases of corruption by Iraqi members of parliament.
Continued prosecution and imprisonment of scholars of signatories of “Academics for Peace Petition”
Letter regarding recent developments in the prosecution and specifically imprisonment of scholars who signed the declaration “We will not be a party to this crime”—commonly referred to as the “Academics for Peace Petition.”
Termination of AUC Endowed Chair
Letter to the administration of the American University in Cairo to express concerns regarding the termination of the Abdulhadi H. Taher Endowed Chair.
Denial of a US Visa to Hanan Ashrawi
Letter protesting the US government's denial of a visa to Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi.
Hatoon al-Fassi and other women’s rights activists released from prison temporarily
MESA is very pleased to report that Dr. Hatoon al-Fassi was released from prison in Saudi Arabia on May 2, 2019, and has been allowed to return home to her family. Dr. al-Fassi is a renowned historian of women in pre-Islamic Arabia, a prominent advocate for women's rights, and a long-time member of MESA. She was the recipient in November 2018, in absentia, of the MESA Academic Freedom Award, the highest recognition MESA can bestow in acknowledgement of contributions to academic freedom. Dr. al-Fassi's release has been characterized as "temporary;" we continue to call for her full exoneration. We call, as well, for the release of the other women's rights advocates who remain in detention.
Health Concerns for Ahmed Mansoor
Letter to UAE authorities expressing concern at reports that the health of internationally-recognized human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor has deteriorated significantly.
Israel’s Ruling on Deportation of Omar Shakir
Letter to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Supreme Court Justices and Registrars, Ministers Shaked and Deri expressing grave concerns regarding the Jerusalem District Court’s decision to uphold the deportation of Mr. Omar Shakir on the basis of his human rights advocacy. CAF calls on the Israeli Supreme Court to reverse the district court’s decision. CAF also calls on the Interior Ministry to cease deporting or barring people from entry on the basis of their political views.
Contract renewal of Thomas Abowd at Tufts University
Letter calling on Tufts University to adhere to accepted standards of equity and transparency with regard to Dr. Thomas Abowd's contract renewal and to uphold the principles of academic freedom.
Attacks on Academic Freedom in Egypt Require Global Response
Scholars at Risk (SAR) and the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression in Egypt (AFTE) have filed a joint submission with the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR), highlighting attacks and pressures on higher education in Egypt.
SAR calls for action against attacks on higher ed communities in Iran
Scholars at Risk (SAR), in cooperation with the Human Rights Law Centre at the University of Nottingham, has filed a submission with the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review, highlighting attacks and pressures on higher education in Iran.
US denial of entry to Omar Barghouti
Letter to Secretary of State Pompeo protesting the decision to deny Omar Barghouti entry to the U.S.
Arbitrary arrests of Birzeit University students
Letter to Israeli authorities condemning the continued harassment and arbitrary arrests of Palestinian university students by Israeli occupying forces. These arrests and campus incursions violate the right to education and academic freedom, and we call upon Israel to cease these attacks on Palestinian universities.
Calling on Kingsborough Community College to defend faculty free speech rights and academic freedom
Letter to the president of Kingsborough Community College and the interim chancellor of the City University of New York calling on them to defend faculty members subjected to baseless accusations of anti-Semitism and harassment, and to uphold the right to free speech and the principles of academic freedom.
Prolonged Detention of Academics in Iran
Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the prolonged detention of Iranian, dual-national, and foreign national academics in Iran.
Florida House Bill conflates criticism of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism
Letter criticizing the definition of anti-Semitism in HB 741, a bill under consideration by the Florida House of Representatives, because it conflates criticism of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism, thereby threatening the right to free speech and academic freedom at Florida's institutions of higher education.
Recent developments concerning the prosecution of Peace Petition signatories and targeting of scholars
Letter regarding recent developments in the prosecution of scholars who signed the declaration “We will not be a party to this crime”—commonly referred to as the “Academics for Peace Petition”—as well as the ongoing targeting of scholars whose research exposes threats emanating from the Turkish government’s policies in areas such as public health and environmental regulation.