Egypt’s Presidential Decrees Erode Academic Freedom
Letter urging the cancellation of presidential decrees impinging upon academic freedom.
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
- Qatar
Termination Initiated against Wheaton College Professor Larycia Hawkins for Inconsistency with “Statement of Faith”
Letter to Wheaton College President Philip Graham Ryken urging him to reject the provost's recommendation that "termination-for-cause" procedures be initiated against Professor Larycia Hawkins because certain statements she allegedly made are supposedly inconsistent with the college's Statement of Faith and calling on him to affirm Wheaton's commitment to uphold the principles of academic freedom.
Changes to Turkish Legal Regulation increase Control by Higher Education Council (YÖK)
Letter to PM Davutoğlu concerning recent changes made to the legal regulation of the Higher Education Council (Yüksek Öğretim Kurulu, or YÖK), enabling the Council to seize control of private universities, suspend the admission of new students, suspend academic programs, and shut down a university indefinitely.
Graduate Student Haydar Darıcı Facing Criminal Investigation and Travel Ban
Letter to PM Davutoglu concerning graduate student Haydar Darici who is currently subject to a travel ban, preventing him from returning to the US to continue his doctoral studies, and a criminal investigation related to his observation of a demonstration in Diyarbakir following his arrival for research.
Mohammad Rafiee Held in Iran’s Evin Prison With Unknown Charges
Letter to Supreme Leader Khamenei concerning the arrest, conviction, and conditions of imprisonment of Professor Emeritus Mohammad Rafiee.
Statement by UCLA’s Graduate Student Association President Regarding Funding Restrictions for Diversity Caucus
Letter to UCLA Chancellor Block to express concern about recent statements by the president of UCLA’s Graduate Student Association (GSA) that the Diversity Caucus would be funded only if it had no connections with organizations that advocate divestment or other sanctions against Israel.
Attacks Against Unarmed Palestinian Students at Palestine Technical University in Tulkarem
Letter to Israeli officials condemning recent attacks against unarmed Palestinian university student protesters at Palestine Technical University in Tulkarem, which included the use of live ammunition and tear gas as well as the deployment of military units onto the university grounds.
Turkish Academic Facing Indictment over Course Using Works of Abdullah Ocalan
Letter to PM Davutoglu concerning Turkish academic facing criminal indictment for “terrorist propaganda” and praising “crime and criminals” due to a final exam question in his course that required comparison of two texts written by Abdullah Ocalan.
Turkish Academic Sentenced for Attending Memorial Service where Anti-government Slogans were Chanted
Letter to PM Davutoglu concerning Turkish academic sentenced to over 11 months imprisonment for attendance at a memorial service during which anti-government slogans were chanted.
Bogazici U Student Detained on Secret EvidenceRrelated to Participation in Pro-Kurdish Activism
Letter to PM Davutoglu concerning the case of a Bogazici University student detained on secret evidence apparently related to his participation in peaceful pro-Kurdish activism and his possession of written materials and music published by Kurdish political figures.
Turkish Academics Face Disciplinary Action for Sharing Academic Expertise with Media
Letter to PM Davutoglu concerning three Turkish academics subjected to disciplinary action by state officials for publicly sharing their expert opinions and research findings concerning, respectively, public health, environment and minority rights issues with the media.
Recent Attacks against unarmed Palestinian University Student Protesters
Letter to Israeli officials regarding recent attacks against unarmed Palestinian university student protesters, including the beating, detention, and medical neglect of three Birzeit University students.
Restrictions and harassment of Professor Maati Monjib of Mohamed V University.
Letter to government officials protesting the recent restrictions on and harassment of Professor Maati Monjib of Mohamed V University.
Re-arrest of Nasser bin Ghaith: No Information about Whereabouts or Reason for Arrest
Letter to UAE officials regarding the August 18 re-arrest of Professor Nasser bin Ghaith whose whereabouts are unknown and has not been heard from since.
University of California Schools Consider Definition of Anti-Semitism inconsistent with Academic Freedom Policy
Letter to University of California President Janet Napolitano and the Board of Regents opposing efforts to have the university adopt a dangerously broad and vague definition of anti-Semitism.
Continued imprisonment of Bahareh Hedayat
Letter to the Supreme Leader of Iran protesting the continued imprisonment of Bahareh Hedayat, and the imposition of a previously suspended two year sentence on her in violation of due process.
California SCR 35’s Broad Definition of Antisemitism
Letter to California state senators regarding SCR 35’s overly broad definition of antisemitism.
Provisional death sentence of Dr. Emad Shahin for espionage
Letter to President Abd el Fattah al-Sisi and government ministers protesting the May 16 provisional sentencing to death of Dr. Emad Shahin for espionage.
Attacks on Yemeni universitys, Operations “Decisive Storm” and “Restoring Hope”
Open Letter to the countries participating in Operations ‘Decisive Storm’ and ‘Restoring Hope’ and the Ansar Allah regarding armed attacks on Yemeni Universities.
Imprisonment of Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace serving life sentence in Jaw Prison
Letter to the Bahraini king demanding the immediate release or, at the very least, proper medical care for Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, on hunger strike at Jaw prison.
Cancellation of conference by the University of Southampton
Letter to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton protesting the university's decision to cancel a scheduled conference out of concern for "risks to safety and public order at and near the conference venue".
Need of proper medical attention for Hamid Babei, serving a 6-year sentence on unsubstaniated charges
Letter protesting the withholding of proper medical attention to Hamid Babaei, a doctoral student of finance who is serving a 6-year prison sentence in Iran on unsubstantiated charges, and who is suffering ill health. This letter follows an earlier letter sent by CAF in May 2014 protesting Babaei’s imprisonment without due process.
Denial of entry to the UAE of NYU Professor Andrew Ross
Letter to the UAE Minister of the Interior and Ambassador to the United States, and to NYU President John Sexton and NYU-Abu Dhabi Vice Chancellor Al Bloom, protesting the denial of entry to the UAE of NYU Professor Andrew Ross.
Israel’s destruction of Palestinian educational institutions in July and August 2014
Follow-up letter of October 7, 2014 (based on UNESCO's Rapid Assessment of Higher Education Institutions in Gaza) to sponsors of international conference for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Foreign Affairs Minister of Norway, Børge Brende, and Foreign Affairs Minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, regarding Israel's indiscriminate bombardment and destruction of Palestinian educational institutions in July and August 2014.
Withdrawl of citizenship from Dr. Masoud Jahromi and 71 others
Letter to Bahraini officials regarding the withdrawl of citizenship from Dr. Masoud Jahromi and 71 other Bahrainis for "illegal acts".