‘Over 100 European institutions ready to host Afghan scholars’

A piece by Ben Upton for Research Professional News covering calls to protect academics in Afghanistan.

The support and advocacy charity Scholars at Risk has told Research Professional News that more than 100 institutions in Europe have expressed an interest in hosting academics and activists fleeing persecution in Afghanistan.

The safety of researchers and activists in Afghanistan has been thrown into question after the deeply conservative Taliban seized control of the country earlier this month.

SAR published an urgent appeal to European governments and the EU on 22 August, calling for evacuation flights to continue as long as there are Afghans who wish to leave. Armed forces from the United States and Europe are expected to leave the country on 31 August, potentially before they are able to evacuate everyone eligible.

Read more here.