JDC Archives Fellowships
JDC Archives
The JDC Archives announces that it is accepting applications for its 2022 fellowship program.
Letter protesting latest attacks on Palestinian universities and civil society organizations
Letter to the Israeli government protesting the ongoing and intensified attacks on Palestinian universities and civil society organizations. We highlight, in particular, the pre-dawn invasion of Birzeit University by Israeli soldiers on 14 December 2021 and the designation, on 22 October, of six Palestinian civil society organizations as "terrorist."
Letter regarding the continuing attacks on Boğaziçi University’s students and faculty under the leadership of the new rector, Mehmet Naci İnci
Letter to President Erdoğan regarding the continuing attacks against the Boğaziçi University’s students and faculty, including police raids, securitization and militarization of the university campus, dismissals of professors through arbitrary rectoral decisions, and criminalization of peaceful academic protest.
MESA 2021 Presidential Address by Dina Khoury (Video)
MESA 2021 Presidential Address, "Pessoptimism and the Discontents of the Field," from Dina Rizk Khoury.
MESA 2021 Awards Ceremony (Video)
MESA 2021 Awards Ceremony, organized by Sara Palmer and Jeff Reger of MESA.
MESA Members Vote to Advance BDS Resolution to Full Membership Vote in Early 2022
MESA members vote to put BDS resolution to a referendum by the full membership in early 2022, endorsing Palestinian civil society’s call for solidarity in support of human rights, including the right to education and academic freedom.
Middle East Scholars give 2021 Academic Freedom Award to the faculty, students, and alumni of Boğaziçi University
The 2021 MESA Academic Freedom Award has been given to the student and faculty protest movement at Boğaziçi University.
MESA Announces 2021 Award Recipients
On December 1, 2021, MESA awarded 20 individuals for excellence in scholarship, mentoring, and service, and to faculty, students, and alumni of Boğaziçi University for defending academic freedom
Letter protesting the detention and prosecution of Cairo University Professor Ayman Mansour Nada
Letter to Egyptian authorities calling for the release of Professor Ayman Mansour Nada, the chair of the Radio and Television Department at Cairo University’s Faculty of Mass Communication.
Letter regarding the termination and deportation of Yemeni scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Letter to Saudi authorities expressing concern about the reported dismissals of Yemeni scholars, physicians and other professionals from their positions at universities in the southern provinces of al-Baha, Asir, Jazan and Najran.
Continuing detention amid deteriorating health of professor Abduljalil Al-Singace
Letter to the King of Bahrain to protest the ongoing detention and worsening condition of Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, a Bahraini professor of engineering sentenced to life in prison after taking part in peaceful protests in 2011.
2021 NEH Grants and Offers
We congratulate Michelle Campos (Pennsylvania State University), Orit Bashkin (University of Chicago), and Lior Sternfeld (Pennsylvania State University)and Kaveh Hemmat (Benedictine College) for receiving NEH grants.
Letter to Iranian authorities calling for immediate release of imprisoned conservationist, Niloufar Bayani
Letter to Iranian authorities calling for the immediate release of conservationist, Niloufar Bayani, who is serving a 10-year sentence on dubious charges and is experiencing declining health. Bayani has contracted the Covid-19 virus in prison and has been sent to a quarantine isolation ward with inadequate medical support.
Continuing detention of Ahmed Mansoor and Nasser bin Ghaith
Letter to UAE authorities expressing concern about the deteriorating health of Ahmed Mansoor, the internationally acclaimed human rights activist and drawing attention to the continuing imprisonment of Nasser bin Ghaith as well as to the Pegasus Project allegations over the use of spyware against academics and others.
Letter regarding the termination of the contracts of two professors at Boğaziçi University by Acting-Rector Mehmet Naci İnci
Letter to President Erdoğan regarding the termination of the contracts of two professors at Boğaziçi University by Acting-Rector Mehmet Naci İnci, who is continuing the politically motivated campaign against Boğaziçi University’s autonomous university governance launched by his predecessor, the controversially appointed Rector, Melih Bulu.
Letter Protesting Israeli Army Arrest of 45 Palestinian University Students, and Ongoing Detention of 15 after a Solidarity Visit to a Demolished Home in Turmus ‘Aya
Please see our letter to Israeli officials protesting the Israeli army arrest of 45 Palestinian university students, and ongoing detention of 15 after a solidarity visit to a demolished home in Turmus 'Aya.
Letter protesting the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Dr. Parviz Tarikhi in Iran
Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Dr. Parviz Tarikhi for scholarly research on peaceful uses of space.
Letter Protesting the Killing of Fadi Washaha and Ongoing Targeting of Palestinian Students
MESA CAF protests the brutal murder of BZU student Fadi Washaha and the ongoing targeting of students, faculty, and employees at Palestinian universities as part of a larger campaign against higher education under Israeli occupation.
Letter regarding the deterioration of academic freedom in Egypt
Letter to Egyptian authorities expressing concern regarding the deterioration of academic freedom in the country, including the continued detention of several scholars, leveling of new charges against some who are already detained, and restrictions on travel of previously detained researchers.
In Memoriam, Michael C. Hudson (1938-2021)
MESA mourns the passing of former MESA President Michael C. Hudson.
Letter to the president of Middlebury College
Letter to the president of Middlebury College to express concern about Middlebury College’s response to a recent incident of harassment involving students advocating on campus for Palestinian rights.
Letter protesting the continued detention of translators, Khuloud Said and Marwa Arafa
Letter to Egyptian authorities calling for the release of Kholoud Said, a translator and the head of the Translation Unit of the publication department at Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), and free-lance translator Marwa Arafa.
Letter protesting ongoing policy of arrests and detention of students in Palestinian universities
Letter to Israeli officials protesting the Israeli army and judiciary’s targeting of students at Palestinian universities in the West Bank.
Letter regarding the targeting of the family of Berlin-based Egyptian Scholar Taqadum Al-Khatib
Letter to Egyptian authorities expressing profound concern regarding the recent raid of the family residence in Egypt of Berlin-based scholar, Taqadum Al-Khatib and the questioning of his father by security officials. CAF urges Egyptian authorities to investigate the case and other similar cases of harassment of family members, and to stop such unjust practices.
Letter protesting the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Touraj Amini in Iran
Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the unjust prosecution and sentencing of Touraj Amini for scholarly research on Qajar history and Iranian Constitutional movement.