Middle East Studies Association of North America, Inc.
3542 N. Geronimo Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85705
520 333-2577 phone
520 207-3166 fax
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.
MESA has created a new Campus Climate resource page for our members in response to academic freedom-related developments on campuses across North America and beyond.
Our letter regarding the 15 April 2024 announcement by the University of Southern California that valedictorian Asna Tabassum will not be permitted to speak at this year’s commencement.
Our letter expressing alarm at Columbia University’s harsh and ill-advised response to a student-organized event that took place on 24 March 2024.
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.
Our letter to President Erdoğan regarding the ongoing dismantling of faculty governance, top-down appointments of external candidates without the due search process, growing censorship and institutionalization of surveillance, as well as the rapid erosion of academic norms and standards and elimination of student life on the campus of Boğaziçi University under the authoritarian leadership of the Physics professor Naci Inci, appointed as the university rector by President Erdoğan.
Our letter expressing concern about a number of Barnard College’s recent actions that call into question its avowed commitment to protecting the right to free speech and the academic freedom of its students, faculty, and staff.
Our letter expressing our grave concern about several of Pomona College administration’s recent actions with respect to student activism in support of Palestinian rights
Our letter expressing concern about several of the Vanderbilt University administration’s recent actions with respect to student activism in support of Palestinian rights
Our letter to the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces regarding the devastation wrought on the education sector in Sudan since the outbreak of fighting in spring 2023 and the severe challenges faced by students and faculty alike.
Our letter to Egyptian authorities expressing our concerns with the persistent deterioration in the conditions of academic freedom in Egypt and the ongoing detentions of scholars and researchers about whom we have written numerous times.
The Committee on Academic Freedom received a response to our 21 March letter objecting to the recent suspension from teaching of an esteemed faculty member, Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian.
Our letter expressing grave concern about Executive Order No. GA-44, issued on 27 March 2024, which defines its purpose as “addressing acts of antisemitism in institutions of higher education.”
Our letter expressing concern about the decision to remove Dr. Kayum Ahmed from the Core curriculum teaching team at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health (SPH).
Our letter to the leadership of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem objecting to the recent suspension from teaching of an esteemed faculty member, Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, for her comments and reflections prompted by Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza.
Our letter to United States government and UN offices protesting the ongoing violations of academic freedom of Palestinians by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.
Please see our letter expressing concern about the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) administration’s decision to cancel a panel discussion on Gaza.
Our letter expressing concern about the administration’s failure to uphold academic freedom at the University of Arkansas
Our letter expressing concern about the suspension of Jairo Fúnez-Flores, Assistant Professor of Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education at Texas Tech University (TTU).
Our letter expressing concern about the closure of the Texas A&M University campus in Qatar as a detrimental move against academic freedom, influenced by geopolitical and external pressures, and calling for a re-evaluation of the decision based on transparency and adherence to academic values.
Our letter expressing concern regarding the effort by Republican members of the Judiciary Committee to smear and delegitimize the Center for Security, Race and Rights at Rutgers University-Newark Law School and the executive director, Professor Sahar Aziz.
Our letter to the president and provost of York University expressing concern about a recent incident involving police disruption of an academic lecture.
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
The Committee on Academic Freedom received a response to our 23 January letter condemning the ongoing repressive measures against Palestinian citizens of Israel who are students in Israeli universities.
Our letter to Israeli government authorities regarding the ongoing military campaign against the Palestinians of Gaza, including the decimation of the education sector and the wanton killing of thousands of students, teachers and professors