Letter to the provost of McGill University
Letter to the provost of McGill University protesting the threat to sanction the Students' Society of McGill University.
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Letter protesting new Israel Government directive regarding selection of international scholars and students to teach and study in Palestinian Universities
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.
In Memoriam, Edward A. Jajko (1940-2022)
MESA mourns the passing of Edward A. Jajko.
Frequently Asked Questions about the BDS Resolution
An FAQ with answers to some frequently asked questions about the BDS resolution.
Middle East Scholars Vote to Endorse BDS
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 objecting to recent dismissal of Iranian university professors
Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the recent dismissals of Iranian university professors.
Letter protesting the reimprisonment of Prof. Fariba Adelkhah
Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the reimprisonment of Prof. Fariba Adelkhah.
Response by Ana Mari Cauce to February 28 Letter
The University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce responds to February 28, 2022 CAF letter regarding the treatment of Professor Liora Halperin.
Letter to the President of the University of Washington
Letter to the President of the University of Washington protesting the treatment of Professor Liora Halperin.
Response by Israeli Ministry of Justice to February 8 Letter
The Israeli Ministry of Justice Public Inquiries Unit responds to February 8, 2022 CAF letter regarding Mr. Ismail Barghouthi and Mr. Mohammed Khatib.
Letter regarding the continued detention of translators, Kholoud Said and Marwa Arafa
Letter to Egyptian authorities expressing concern about the continued detention 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, and calling for their immediate release.
Letter protesting invasion of Birzeit University and assault on students
Letter to the Israeli government in protest of the latest invasion of Birzeit University, on 10 January 2022, and the assault and arrest of several Birzeit University students.
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.