Middle East Studies Association

Iraq

February 04, 2020
Task Force on Civil and Human Rights

TFCHR announces a study of visa and denial of entry issues

MESA's Task Force on Civil and Human Rights notes with concern the increasing denial of entry to students, particularly from Iran, with valid visas, as well as reports of deportations and interrogations. MESA has initiated a study of the issues of visa cancelation, border denials, and deportations of students and faculty from the Middle East and North Africa. We are seeking information to better document the challenges faced by those seeking to travel from the MENA region to the US for academic purposes. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to provide information regarding these issues.

June 13, 2019
Committee on Academic Freedom

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.

October 08, 2018
Committee on Academic Freedom

Response from George Washington University Provost to September 25 Letter

GWU Provost Forrest Maltzman responds to CAF's serious concerns regarding the 10 September 2018 announcement of a "research partnership" between the New York Times and George Washington University's Program on Extremism (POE).

September 25, 2018
Committee on Academic Freedom

Iraqi Documents and Research Partnership between The New York Times and George Washington University

Letter to George Washington University leadership regarding university's partnership with the New York Times to house documents removed from Iraq by Rukmini Callimachi.

July 20, 2018
Task Force on Civil and Human Rights

Memo on US Supreme Court Decision on IRAP v. Trump upholding September 24, 2017 Presidential Proclamation of Travel Ban

On June 26, 2018, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion upholding President Trump’s third Muslim Ban. MESA continues to believe that the travel ban is at odds with fundamental principles upheld by the scholarly community including non-discrimination and a commitment to the free exchange of ideas. MESA will continue to take proactive steps to mitigate the adverse impact of the travel ban on research collaborations, scholarly activities and the students in our community.

June 01, 2018
Committee on Academic Freedom

New York Times Response to Issues Raised Regarding Its Acquisition and Unethical Use of Documents Removed from Iraq

The New York Times has responded to several issues raised by CAF's May 2, 2018 letter as well as questions sent in by other readers regarding the nearly 16,000 documents that journalist Rukmini Callimachi and her team removed from Iraq without permission of the relevant Iraqi authorities.

May 02, 2018
Committee on Academic Freedom

Acquisition and Unethical Use of Documents Removed from Iraq by New York Times Journalist Rukmini Callimachi

Letter to the New York Times concerning Rukmini Callimachi’s series “The ISIS Files” that employs nearly 16,000 documents removed from Iraq by her and her team without permission of the relevant Iraqi authorities. In addition to the complete disregard for the myriad legal, professional, ethical, and moral issues involved, including endangering individuals by the reckless publication of unredacted documents, their removal from Iraq is a violation of a number of international customary laws.

June 27, 2017
Task Force on Civil and Human Rights

Memo on Impact of Supreme Court Decision on Travel Ban

Task Force for Civil and Human Rights Memo on June 26, 2017 U.S. Supreme Court decision on travel ban.

January 29, 2017
Task Force on Civil and Human Rights

Memo on Executive Order to Limit Entry of Middle Eastern Refugees and Immigrants

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order on January 27th, 2017 which issued new guidance on the admission and vetting of non-citizens to the United States.

November 10, 2006
Committee on Academic Freedom

Killing of Professor al-Rawi and al-Asadi

Letter to the Honorable Nouri Kamal al-Maliki regarding the killing of Professor al-Rawi and al-Asadi.

June 05, 2006
Committee on Academic Freedom

AAUP/MESA Joint Statement on Iraq

AAUP/MESA Joint Statement on higher education and academic freedom in Iraq.

December 19, 1990
Committee on Academic Freedom

Undermining of university life and denial of academic freedom in Kuwait

Letter to Iraqi President expressing concern over the state of academic freedom in Kuwait under Iraqi occupation and the apparent contravening of the Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949 measures which prohibit collective punishment of persons living in occupied territories as well as requiring the occupying power to facilitate the proper working of educational institutions and forbids destruction of property.

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