MESA 2020 Special Session Video: MESA Publications Workshop: Strategies for Shaping Your Own Academic Record
MESA 2020 Special Session 1-3 organized by Heather Ferguson, Claremont McKenna College and Joel Gordon, University of Arkansas.
MESA 2020 Special Session Video: The Political Economy and Ethics of Social Science Research in the Arab World
MESA 2020 Special Session 1-1 organized by Lisa Anderson, Columbia University
Press Release: MESA virtual conference to take place October 5-17 2020
Press release regarding MESA's first virtual conference (#MESA2020), which will take place live October 5-17, 2020.
Statement on DHS Proposed Rule Imposing New Limits on Student Visa Duration
The MESA Task Force on Civil and Human Rights calls on DHS to withdraw a proposed rule that would effectively deprive international students of lawful status for the duration required for many degree programs, restricting students from much of the developing world to two-year visas insufficient even for undergraduate study. The administration's proposed regulation would effectively mean that the United States no longer welcomes international students. If this rule were to go into effect, students from much of the world would face severe disincentives in considering degree programs in the U.S. Such actions would inflict broad harm on the intellectual life and economic viability of American universities, future generations of students, and the sectors of the economy that require highly qualified researchers and professionals.
Memo on the Circumstances of the Arrest and Detention of Iranian Materials Scientist Dr. Sirous Asgari
The Middle East Studies Association Task Force on Civil and Human Rights and the Committee on Academic Freedom join together in expressing our shock and outrage at reports concerning the arrest and detention of Iranian materials scientist Dr. Sirous Asgari.
Letter to the University of Toronto concerning outside interference in hiring
Letter to the president of the University of Toronto protesting the rescinding of the offer of employment to Dr. Valentina Azarova.
Concern for detained students in Iran pressured into making televised false confessions
Letter to Iranian authorities protesting students' detention, and reports according to which they are being pressured into making televised false confessions in order to escape the death penalty.
Protesting the Administrative Detention of Imad Barghouthi of al-Quds University
Letter to Israeli authorities protesting the continued detention of Imad Barghouthi, Professor of Theoretical Space Plasma Physics at Al-Quds University, and the order to place him under administrative detention.
Sentencing Bahey eldin Hassan, human rights advocate and founder of Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Letter to Egyptian authorities expressing deep concern regarding the verdict against Bahey eldin Hassan, in absentia, on 25 August 2020. Hassan is a leading human rights advocate in Egypt and founder of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS). CAF also urges the authorities to drop all charges against Hassan.
New Social Media Law in Turkey
Letter regarding a new social media law in Turkey that endangers academic freedom by further expanding government censorship.
Response from USC President to August 17 Letter
University of Southern California President Carol L. Folt responds to August 17 CAF letter regarding her recent message conflating anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.
Letter to USC President Regarding Recent Message Conflating Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism
Letter to the President of USC criticizing her recent message conflating anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.
Ongoing harassment of cultural and educational workers in occupied East Jerusalem
Letter to Israeli authorities condemning the detention and conditional release of Rania Elias, Suhail Khoury, and Daoud Al-Ghoul, directors of cultural institutions in occupied East Jerusalem, and the infringements on educational and cultural rights of Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem.
Disciplinary actions against Professor Kayıhan Pala
Letter regarding the case of Dr. Kayıhan Pala, a Public Health professor at Uludağ University, who faces a disciplinary investigation for sharing his scholarly views on the numbers of reported Covid-19 cases and fatalities in Bursa.
Concern for the safety of Australian-British dual national Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert imprisoned in Iran
Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the transfer of Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert from Evin to Qarchak prison and expressing grave concern for her safety and well-being.
Recent arrest and detention of Imad Barghouti of Al-Quds University
Letter to Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu about the most recent arrest and administrative detention of Dr. Imad Barghouti of Al-Quds University without charge or trial.
Professor Bülent Şık’s prison sentence for making public his research on industrial pollution
Letter regarding the case of Professor Bülent Şık whose research focuses on public health, food safety and the right to a healthy environment, and who was given a prison sentence for making public his research on industrial pollution.
Response from UW Chancellor Office to June 3 Letter
University of Wisconsin-Madison Assistant Vice Chancellor responds to June 3 CAF letter about Horowitz Center attack on Samer Alatout.
Persistent targeting of Palestinian students through arbitrary arrests and detentions, often without trial
Letter to the Government of Israel protesting the ongoing obstruction of Palestinian higher education through the persistent targeting and detention of Palestinian students and the most recent spate of arbitrary arrests.
Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab released from prison
MESA is pleased to report that the prominent Bahraini human rights activist, Nabeel Rajab has been released from prison – albeit under “severe restrictions” – after serving four of a five-year sentence.
Recent amendments made to Turkey’s Higher Education Law
Letter regarding the recent amendments made to Turkey’s Higher Education Law that enable arbitrary and unconstitutional forms of punishment against faculty and politically motivated closures of private universities.
Letter to the University of Wisconsin protesting the Horowitz Center’s attack on Professor Samer Alatout
Letter to the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison protesting the David Horowitz Freedom Center's Scurrilous Attack on Professor Samer Alatout.
Woodrow Wilson announces Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows for 2020
We congratulate Lara Fresko Madra (Cornell University) as one of the 2020 Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows.
In Memoriam, Walter G. Andrews (1939-2020)
MESA mourns the passing of University of Washington Professor Emeritus Walter G. Andrews.
Calling for immediate release of detained Egyptian translators
Letter to Egyptian authorities protesting the arrest and extended pre-trial detention of Kholoud Said, a translator at Bibliotheka Alexandrina, and calling for reform of the criminal code that allows for multiple renewals of the pre-trial detention period