In Memorium, Basima Qattan Bezirgan (1932-2019)
MESA mourns the passing of Basima Bezirgan, former MESA member and ME cataloger at the University of Chicago.
Detentions of Academic Visitors in Iran*
Letter to Iranian authorities condemning the continued detention of visiting academics on the basis of what appear to be fabricated charges
Senators Introduce Revised Israel Anti-Boycott Act
Letter expressing concern over the most recent version of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S. 720) which continues to criminalize participation in what it terms “politically motivated” boycotts directed at Israel.
British PhD Student Matthew Hedges Given Life Sentence
Letter (co-signed by Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies) to UAE authorities condemning the sentencing of British PhD student Matthew Hedges to life imprisonment for ‘spying’ supposedly on behalf of the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service.
From Al-Fanar Media: Fewer Arab Students Head for the United States
MESA in the news: From Al-Fanar Media "Fewer Arab Students Head for the United States
Middle East Scholars Give Academic Freedom Award to Saudi Scholar, Writer, and Women’s Rights Advocate, Dr. Hatoon Ajwad Al Fassi
2018 MESA Academic Freedom Award given to Saudi scholar, writer, and women's rights advocate, Dr. Hatoon Ajwad Al Fassi
MESA Announces 2018 Award Recipients
MESA awarded 12 individuals for excellence in scholarship, mentoring, service, and defending academic freedom on November 16, 2018.
Press Release on Affirmation of Commitment to Fight Antisemitism as a Form of Racism
At its 52nd annual meeting in San Antonio, MESA's Board of Directors issued a statement affirming commitment to fight Antisemitism as a form of racism.
Press Release on Deteriorating Security Conditions for Researchers in the United Arab Emirates
At its 52nd annual meeting, MESA's Board of Directors issued a statement of concern on the deteriorating security conditions for researchers in the United Arab Emirates.
SUNY Collaboration with Turkish Council of Higher Education (YOK)
Letter protesting joint SUNY-YOK discussion.
University of Michigan Graduate Student Threatened for Refusing to Write Recommendation Letter
Letter to the University of Michigan Defending Graduate Student Threatened for Refusing to Write Recommendation Letter
Detention and upcoming trial of Matthew Hedges
Letter to UAE authorities regarding Matthew Hedges, a British PhD student from Durham University who has been detained by State Security since May 2018 and has been accused of spying for a foreign government.
University of Michigan Professor Disciplined for Refusing to Write Student Recommendation Letter
Letter to the University of Michigan protesting the imposition of disciplinary sanctions against Professor John Cheney-Lippold because of his decision not to write a letter of recommendation for a student applying to a study-abroad program in Israel.
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).
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.
Appeal to release Mr. Xiyue Wang from Iranian Prison
Letter to Iranian authorities expressing grave concern regarding the imprisonment and conviction of Mr. Xiyue Wang, History PhD Student at Princeton University, while conducting archival research for his doctoral dissertation.
Withdrawal of Saudi students from Canada
Letter to Saudi authorities regarding the decision to withdraw all Saudi students from Canada by 31 August 2018 as a result of the diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
Detention and sentencing of Palestinian student activist Ola Marshoud
Letter to Israeli authorities condemning the sentencing of Ms. Ola Marshoud to seven months in prison for organizing students in opposition to the Israeli Occupation Forces at an-Najah National University in Nablus, where she was a registered student.
Arbitrary demands on foreign national academics working in Palestinian universities
Letter to Israeli authorities condemning the arbitrary conditions imposed on foreign national academics working (or seeking to work) in Palestinian universities, and the increasing denial of visas (new and renewed) to them.
Student Arrests and Detentions in Iran
Letter to Iranian authorities condemning the crackdown and harsh prison sentences against students who participated in peaceful country-wide protests on and off campus.
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.
July 8th Emergency Decree 701 Removing 206 Academics and 52 Administrators
Letter to President Erdoğan regarding the July 8th Emergency Decree (KHK 701), which resulted in the dismissals of 206 academics at 63 public universities and 52 administrators from 24 public universities in Turkey from their positions.
Detention of University of Washington Ph.D. student Walid Salem
Letter to the Supreme State Prosecution in Egypt concerning the detention of Walid Salim, a University of Washington Ph.D. student conducting research in Egypt.