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SAR seeks External Relations Associate  more »

Advocacy

SAR calls for letters on behalf of detained Bahraini professor [updated 08-31-2010]

Scholars at Risk is gravely concerned about the arrest and detention of Professor Abdul Jalil Al-Singace, a mechanical engineer at University of Bahrain in Isa Town.  Media reports indicate that Professor Al-Singace was arrested on August 13, 2010 at Bahrain International Airport, upon his return from the United Kingdom, and taken to an undisclosed location.  This followed his address on August 5 to the British House of Lords during which he reported on Bahrain’s human rights situation.  As of August 31, Professor Al-Singace has not been permitted regular visits with his family or lawyer; indeed we understand that his lawyer was able to see him for the first time only recently.  Furthermore, reports indicate that his detention period has been extended to 60 additional days. 

On August 27, SAR issued an alert calling for letters, faxes and emails urging authorities to explain publicly the reasons for Prof. Al-Singace’s detention, disclose the whereabouts of Prof. Al-Singace and ensure his access to medical care, family and legal counsel.  To view SAR's letter, please click here.

Saving Lives

Persecuted Scholars Find Protection in the Netherlands

Five scholars threatened with persecution have recently arrived in the Netherlands to take up temporary positions of sanctuary at Dutch universities. The scholars—professors, researchers and scientists—were placed at their host universities through a project organized by the University Assistance Fund (UAF) and the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR). The five scholars are from Iran, Iraq and Bhutan and work in the fields of biotechnology, women’s rights, history, political science and public administration. They are being hosted by the University of Amsterdam, the University of Groningen, the University of Tilburg and Delft University of Technology. “With these university positions, we have triple benefits,” says Kees Bleichrodt, UAF's director. “Threatened scholars are protected from the violation of their human rights. They also make a worthwhile contribution to research at Dutch universities. And the universities demonstrate that they are committed to promoting academic freedom around the world.” For information on the SAR-UAF project in the Netherlands, please visit UAF Scholars at Risk project and for information on the Scholars at Risk global network, please contact SAR at +1 212-998-2179. more »

The Network

Illinois Wesleyan confers honorary degree on SAR's Rob Quinn

At the 160th commencement ceremonies for Illinois Wesleyan University held on May 2, 2010, President Richard F. Wilson and Board of Trustee’s President George Vinyard conferred an honorary doctor of laws degree upon Scholars at Risk Executive Director Robert Quinn, in recognition of the many contributions Scholars at Risk has made to help secure academic freedom and to protect scholars around the globe.  Illinois Wesleyan is one of the original twenty founding members of the network, which now includes more than 200 universities in 26 countries.  SAR Board member and IWU Professor Irving Epstein and Rob’s wife Molly were among those attending the ceremony. more »

Speaker Series

The Power of Ideas

During the week of April 26th, Scholars at Risk presented a series of events on “The Power of Ideas” in collaboration with universities and partners in Northern California. Scholars at Risk is grateful to University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, World Affairs Council of Northern California – San Francisco, University of California at Davis and World Affairs Council of Northern California – Sacramento for helping to make the series of events a success. Based on lessons learned from thousands of academics, researchers, writers, artists and activists who suffered because of their research, writing and speaking out, Robert Quinn, Executive Director of Scholars at Risk, discussed the dynamics behind the power of ideas, and threatened scholars shared their personal stories with audiences in the Bay Area. To listen to a podcast of the event at the World Affairs Council of Northern California – San Francisco, please click here. For more information and to learn about opportunities to host speakers at your institution, contact Scholars at Risk at +1 212-998-2179.

Scholars at Risk participates in CODESRIA conference on academic freedom

Scholars at Risk recently participated in the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) conference on Academic Freedom held in Oran, Algeria in March 2010. The conference, entitled "Academic Freedom and the Social Responsibility of Academics and Researchers in Africa: What are the new challenges?" is part of CODESRIA's ongoing effort to strengthen the intellectual community of African social sciences and humanities researchers. The March 2010 conference, attended by academics from universities across Africa and beyond, explored the progress of academic freedom in Africa over the last three decades. At the conference, SAR Deputy Director presented a paper providing global perspectives on contemporary challenges to academic freedom and participated in discussions on how to jointly address academic freedom concerns in Africa and around the world.