The 2022 MESA Academic Freedom Award has been given to 6 Palestinian NGOs — Addameer, Al-Haq, Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International - Palestine, Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees — for their decades-long pursuit of academic freedom, courageous resilience, and contributions to the field of Middle East Studies.
On December 2, 2022, MESA awarded 17 individuals for excellence in scholarship, mentoring, and service, and to 6 Palestinian NGO's for their decades-long pursuit of academic freedom, courageous resilience, and contributions to the field of Middle East Studies.
Our letter urging the President of Case Western Reserve University to reconsider its recent statement which equates criticism of the State of Israel with anti-Semitism.
New letter protesting Israel Government revised directive regarding selection of international scholars and students to teach and study in Palestinian Universities.
Letter to Iranian authorities condemning recent attacks on academic institutions, students and teachers protesting government violence & repression.
The Committee on Academic Freedom received a response to the 27 June letter urging the Department Education’s Office for Civil Rights to not use the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism and its examples to formulate antidiscrimination regulations.
Letter to Egyptian officials calling for the immediate release of Salah Soltan from his inhumane detention in Egypt.
Letter to Saudi officials regarding the sentencing of University of Leeds PhD student Salma al-Shehab to 34 years in prison.
Letter urging the University of Denver to reconsider its recent public statement concerning Professor Nader Hashemi.
Letter to the Egyptian authorities protesting the protracted detention without trial of Professor Seif Fateen and the inhumane conditions to which he has been subjected.
CAF welcomes the news of the recent release of Egyptian researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy, and reiterates the call for the release of other detained academics and the removal of travel restrictions.
Letter to Egyptian authorities protesting continued detention, violation of academic freedom of Egyptian scholars
Letter to the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights urging it not to use the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism and its examples to formulate antidiscrimination regulations
Letter to the president of John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) protesting the cancellation of the Palestine Lives Conference.
Letter to protest the recent spate of aggressions of Palestinian students at Israeli universities, that have included incitement, intimidation and detention. We condemn, as well, the apparent collusion between Israeli security forces and right-wing nationalists in the harassment of Palestinian students.
Ninth letter to the government of Iran regarding the worrisome circumstances of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, incarcerated since April 2016 on false charges and sentenced to death. This time, we urge the rescinding of the judiciary's order of execution expected to occur by 21 May 2022.
Fourth letter to Egyptian authorities regarding the case of Waleed Salem, Ph.D. student at University of Washington, arrested in Cairo in 2018, and then released without charges from pre-trial detention, but subjected to a travel ban ever since.
Letter to the Egyptian authorities calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and subsequent death of economics researcher Ayman Hadhoud.
Letter to the provost of McGill University protesting the threat to sanction the Students' Society of McGill University.
Letter to Israeli authorities protesting the Government’s proposed policy regarding the selection of international scholars and students to teach and study in Palestinian universities, giving the Israeli military the unilateral power to select and exclude scholars and students and limiting their numbers significantly, while censoring certain disciplines and foci of research. If implemented, the policy would undermine Palestinian universities' ability to recruit appropriate faculty and curtail Palestinians' academic freedom.
MESA mourns the passing of Edward A. Jajko.
An FAQ with answers to some frequently asked questions about the BDS resolution.
The membership of MESA has voted in favor of a resolution endorsing the Palestinian call for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel as a way to hold the government accountable for ongoing human rights violations. MESA’s Board of Directors will implement it in a manner consistent with MESA’s bylaws as well as relevant U.S. federal, state, and local laws. The resolution states that the boycott will not target individual students or scholars, and reiterates the right of individual MESA members to choose whether or not they wish to participate in an academic boycott of Israeli institutions.
Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the recent dismissals of Iranian university professors.
Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the reimprisonment of Prof. Fariba Adelkhah.