We would like to thank all SAR hosts for their impressive dedication to threatened colleagues around the globe. So far this year, the SAR team has partnered with 75 universities and colleges across the network to arrange 103 visiting appointments for scholars, inviting them to safely resume their vital work and create new academic community at their host institution. 

 

If your institution is able to consider inviting a scholar or practitioner to campus, we invite you to review the list of 85 Scholars Seeking Assistance. A number of new candidates have recently joined the list as the SAR team reviews more applications each month. Scholars seeking support include those facing direct threats due to the ongoing unrest in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, a protracted civil war in Yemen, and conflict unimaginably reaching its 12th year in Syria. Under the Taliban’s increasing and targeted repression, more than 40 Afghan scholars are seeking positions as new requests for assistance reach SAR on a daily basis. Their academic expertise is as diverse as their home countries. Scholars represent geology, law and human rights, journalism, sociology, agricultural science, Russian literature, economics, and many more. If you’d like to learn more about any of these candidates, or about hosting in general, please reach out to hostingatSAR@nyu.edu.

“The annals of academic freedom have been fraught with challenges and restrictions, dating as far back as the trial of Socrates in ancient Greece and extending into modern times. Michel Foucault, a philosopher who notably wrote on power, famously posited that schools, universities, and other educational institutions serve similar societal functions as prisons and mental hospitals by defining, classifying, controlling, and regulating individuals. 

According to Foucault, these institutions are designed to uphold the power of one particular social class, while suppressing the power of others. This oppressive atmosphere can cause scholars to internalize these restrictions, leading to what philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre referred to as “bad faith,” or the tendency to renounce one’s own freedom due to internalizing the oppressive pressure.

However, the SAR Network offers a distinct experience for scholars. Within this network, academics are able to reject “bad faith” and experience true academic freedom. [...]

Thanks to the support of SAR, I have had the opportunity to experience this reality and the vibrant atmosphere of academic freedom in Europe firsthand. [...] This was particularly evident in my teaching, where I had the opportunity to offer courses exploring themes of feminism, gender identity, and queer theory, which are subjects that are often censored or repressed in more restrictive societies. As a result, I felt liberated and empowered, as though I had been released from a kind of intellectual bondage.

Majid Mgamis, Assistant Professor, Department of Foreign Languages and Translation
University of Agder, Norway | Read Mgamis' full reflection »

SAR scholars are at-risk higher education professionals who exemplify the pursuit of academic freedom, freedom of expression, and university values. If your institution is interested in hosting a SAR scholar, please email HostingatSAR@nyu.edu.

A Scholar of History and Information Studies

This scholar of history specializing in library science and information studies has over a decade of research and teaching experience in Ukraine. Most recently, she served as a lead researcher and professor of theory and history of library affairs at her home institution, conducting research on countering misinformation and propaganda, as well as historical memory preservation and identity. She reports risk due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and her pro-democracy stance. She is seeking research and/or teaching positions in the United States beginning immediately. (Ukraine-639)

A Scholar of Computer Science

This scholar of computer science and communication technology has six years of postdoctoral teaching and research experience in Yemen, where he has served most recently as a department head and assistant professor of information technology. He has published several articles in refereed international journals with a research focus on high-speed TCP protocols, high-speed network, QoS, scheduling algorithms, admission control, and wireless networks. He reports general, situational risk due the ongoing civil war in Yemen and underscores challenges to continuing his academic career due to his political neutrality. He is seeking research and/or teaching opportunities beginning immediately. (Yemen-591)

A Scholar of Microbiological and Biochemical Pharmacy

This scholar specializes in peptide drug development and cancer immunotherapy. In his dissertation, he studied the anti-tumor activities of immune checkpoint antagonist peptides. He has experience instructing courses in microbiology, virology, immunology, and pathology, among others. Fearing for his life in light of the general violence and direct threats on university spaces in Yemen, this scholar is seeking teaching and/or research opportunities beginning immediately. (Yemen-648)

On March 29, 72 countries, led by France and South Africa, issued a historic Joint Statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council calling for international cooperation in the protection of academic freedom globally. 

SAR Executive Director Rob Quinn remarked on the statement: “As the signatories acknowledged, attacks against academic freedom are on the rise around the world, imperiling social, political, and scientific progress, political participation, and numerous related rights and freedoms.”

More information on attacks on higher education can be found in SAR’s Free to Think report series and by visiting the Academic Freedom Index, a tool co-developed by the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the V-Dem Institute, and SAR | Photo: Ambassador of France to the UN, Jérôme Bonnafont, reads the Joint Statement at the UN Human Rights Council | Photo credit: Permanent Mission of France to the UN in Geneva

Scholars at Risk (SAR) seeks a strategy-oriented, highly-organized, and thoughtful individual to join SAR’s Advocacy team as a Senior Program Officer to lead and evolve SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project and Free to Think report series into more effective advocacy tools. The position requires excellent analytical skills, research, writing, communication, project management, attention to detail, and judgment. It is ideal for a proactive, thoughtful individual who takes initiative, embraces transformative thinking, and enjoys the research process in collaboration with a close team. Deadline for initial application review is April 30, 2023. Read more and apply »

Dr. Alfred Babo, a SAR alum and board member, and Dr. Sayed Hassan Akhlaq, a SAR alum, have launched a call for papers for their forthcoming book, Exiled Scholars in Western Academia: Refugees or Intellectuals? This book aims to engage exiled scholars in an intellectual examination of the nexus of personal and professional experiences in Western universities. Contributors will share their own unique experiences in order to reflect on the changing nature of knowledge production, transfer, and exchange in a world increasingly defined by forced migration. For more information, please review the attached PDF. Interested contributors can submit an abstract of no more than 500 words, by April 30, 2023, and a brief bio to the editors (ababo@fairfield.edu and shussaini@coppin.edu).

SAR Italy’s latest report illustrates a dramatic increase in membership engagement across the dynamic national section. From 2019 to 2022, 16 universities hosted 92 scholars from 9 different countries. By the end of 2022, the section had grown from 14 to 36 member institutions engaged in a diverse range of activities including, among many, advocacy for imprisoned scholars, Speaker Series programming, and workshops on academic freedom.  

 

“These two years have seen America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine and most recently attacks on students and academics in Iran, not to mention the many threats to academic freedom in different countries. It is perhaps the resonance of some of these events and the need to provide concrete acts of solidarity that has led to the growing interest in Scholars at Risk in Italy and the rise in membership…”

Read SAR Italy’s new report of activities from January 2021 to December 2022 to learn more about their activities and stories from scholars.

Read more »

Upcoming SAR Network “drop-in” sessions

Earlier this year, SAR began offering a new opportunity for connection and discussion within the network: Information-sharing drop-in sessions (“drop-ins”) for network members. We have had the opportunity to connect with representatives from member institutions in Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Venezuela, and the United States on topics ranging from reflections on hosting, garnering more support for at-risk scholars on campus, funding structures, advocacy initiatives and more.

SAR staff convene the sessions roughly every other week for 30-60 minute sessions. We hope to create an informal, informative, and practical space for network members and partners to ask questions and to share information, experience, good practices, and resources. We look forward to continuing these conversations over the next few months. Join us for upcoming sessions on April 20th and May 4th. Read more and register »

Latest on 'Free to Think' with host Rob Quinn

In SAR’s “Free to Think” podcast, SAR Executive Director Rob Quinn speaks with guests who inspire us with their courage to seek and speak truth — often at great risk — as well as those who work to defend them. Tune in now to our latest episodes, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major platforms. Listen here »

From March 29 to 30, students and faculty from Canada and the US – Carleton University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Dayton, the University of Iowa, the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania – convened in Washington, DC for SAR’s annual Student Advocacy Days. The two-day event included presentations by students on case strategies, consultations with NGO partners and country experts, and a keynote address by Peter Biar Ajak, a South Sudanese political activist and former scholar-in-prison. 

 

The students held 19 meetings with offices of Members of Congress to advocate for wrongfully imprisoned scholars Ahmadreza Djalali, Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba, Ilham Tohti, Marfa Rabkova, Niloufar Bayani, and Patrick George Zaki. 

 

SAR thanks the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for hosting the event and our partners at the American Psychological Association, Freedom Initiative, Hostage Aid Worldwide, the National Academies of Sciences’s Committee on Human Rights, and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.

Interested in starting a Student Advocacy Seminar on your campus? Learn more about the program here or contact Seminar Coordinator Adam Braver at adam.braver@nyu.edu for more information. | Photo credit: Chris Ferenzi 

On March 15, SAR issued a letter to Iranian authorities urging Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to extend amnesty to imprisoned scholars and students following the release of and reduction of sentences for hundreds of prisoners in the country. 

Those who remain imprisoned include Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, Ms. Niloufar Bayani, Mr. Ali Younesi, and Mr. Amirhossein Moradi. Anthropologist Dr. Fariba Adelkhah was among those released, and SAR also urged authorities to respect her freedom of movement. Support Ms. Bayani by signing this letter and Dr. Djalali by signing this letter. 

Support human rights and stand in solidarity with at-risk scholars around the world. Your contribution helps promote the indispensable scholarship of the academic community and allows us to advocate on their behalf, preserving everyone's right to think, question, and share ideas. Give today »

As part of the EU-funded MSCA4Ukraine scheme, SAR Europe is organising a series of career development opportunities for researchers from Ukraine, commencing on 4th May with a webinar on “Exploring funding opportunities in the EU and beyond: Advice for researchers from Ukraine.” 

Speakers will address the topic of funding opportunities for researchers from Ukraine beyond the MSCA4Ukraine scheme, and experts will provide advice on how to prepare competitive applications. See registration details »

Thanks for sharing!  SAR thanks the over 500 respondents who completed our 2023-28 Strategic Planning Survey. We appreciate their time and thoughtful reflections. They are enormously helpful! A summary report of the results of the survey can be found on the SAR website, along with appendices of the backup data by stakeholder group. We invite you to review the report and share it with others who may be interested in our work.

As we continue the strategic planning process, we look forward to discussing the results with SAR network members, partners, and friends like you. Toward that end, we invite you to join us for one or more of the following webinars:

 

Session 1: Thursday, 20 April 2023, 16:00 ET / 21:00 GMT / 22:00 CET

Register here »

 

Session 2: Thursday, 20 April 2023, 22:00 ET |  Friday 21 April 7:30 IST / 12:00 AEST

Register here »

 

Session 3: Friday, 21 April 2023, 10:00 ET / 15:00 GMT / 16:00 CET

Register here »

 

Feedback from the webinars will inform the drafting of the plan, which will go into effect on 1 September 2023. Thank you again for your ongoing support for the planning process and all of SAR’s work.