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
Letter to Duke University criticizing the questioning of a student because of her social media posts
Letter to the vice provost/vice president of Duke University criticizing the summoning of a student for questioning over her social media posts.
Recent developments in Turkey targeting Istanbul Sehir University
Letter regarding recent developments affecting Istanbul Sehir University that have compromised the university’s governance and autonomy and now threaten it with closure as a result of an apparently politically motivated campaign by the Turkish government.
Concern regarding the well-being of Australian-British dual national Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert imprisoned in Iran
Letter to Iranian authorities expressing our grave concern over the well-being of Australian-British dual national, Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2018.
Protesting the recent sentencing of Palestinian student Mais Abu Gush
Letter to Israeli authorities regarding the recent sentencing and continued imprisonment of Mais Abu Gush, a Birzeit University student who has been detained since August 2019.
NEH Summer Stipends Announced
Eight individuals in Middle East studies have been awarded NEH summer stipends.
Protesting the death of Dr. Abdullah al-Hamid in Saudi Arabia
Letter to Saudi authorities protesting the death in custody and after medical negligence of scholar, rights advocate, and political detainee Dr. Abdullah al-Hamid.
In Memoriam, L. Carl Brown (1928-2020)
MESA mourns the passing of founding fellow L. Carl Brown.
Calling for immediate release of Niloufar Bayani and her conservationist colleagues from Iran’s prison
Letter to Iranian authorities calling for the immediate release of Niloufar Bayani and her conservationist colleagues given the abusive detention practices and due process failures of their imprisonment.
Calling on Iranian authorities to immediately release Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal
Letter to Iranian authorities calling for the immediate release of Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal amid their personal health crisis and deteriorating health conditions in the country’s prisons.
Disciplinary action against striking international graduate students at UCSC
Letter to the president and executive vice chancellor of UCSC protesting disciplinary action against striking international graduate students.
Urging immediate release of Patrick Zaki and other scholars from Egyptian state pre-trial detention without justifiable cause
Letter urging the immediate release of Patrick Zaki, student at the University of Bologna, Italy, who has been detained by Egyptian security forces since 7 February 2020 and tortured. Letter also urges the immediate release of all students and scholars held in pre-trial detention without justification.
Protesting Dr. Eyal Weizman’s denial of entry to the US
Letter to U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo regarding the U.S. government’s decision to bar prominent British-Israeli architect Dr. Eyal Weizman from entering the United States. Dr. Weizman had been invited by Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) for the opening of Forensic Architecture’s first major exhibition.
Response from Pitzer President to February 20 letter
Pitzer College President Melvin Oliver responds to February 20 CAF letter regarding allegations of anti-Semitism.
Allegations of anti-Semitism at Pitzer and Pomona colleges
Letter to the presidents of Pitzer and Pomona colleges regarding allegations by the David Horowitz Freedom Center.
DoE investigation of UCLA for alleged discrimination against Jewish students
Letter to the Chancellor of UCLA on the Department of Education's Investigation.
Urging Egypt’s cooperation on murder investigation of Italian student Giulio Regeni
Letter urging the Egyptian authorities to cooperate with a new Italian investigation of Giulio Regeni's murder.
CAF response to Hebrew University letter regarding Issawiyah neighborhood
A follow-up letter to the administration of Hebrew University with a call for the University to declare its solidarity with Issawiyah and to act immediately to demilitarize the campus.
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 visaRA@mesana.org if you would like to provide information regarding these issues.
Concerns regarding Fariba Adelkhah’s hunger strike and the health of Roland Marchal detained in Iran
Letter to Iranian authorities expressing alarm over the health and well-being of French academics Drs. Adelkhah and Marchal detained in Iran.
Iranian students arrested for protesting downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752
Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the unlawful arrest of students and unlawful invasion of university space in the aftermath of the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 on 8 January 2020.
Traveling across borders: short guides to rights
Short guides to expectations of privacy and rights when crossing borders and traveling to the US
DoE investigation of NYU for alleged discrimination against Jewish students
Letter to the president of NYU regarding the Department of Education's investigation of alleged discrimination against Jewish students