2023

LOOKING FORWARD This year marked a significant turning point for Scholars at Risk. As we reached the end of our five-year strategic plan, we had the opportunity to come together and reflect on the incredible progress we have made as an organization.

In the past five years, SAR has spurred the growth of an ever-expanding constellation of partner programs, sections, coalitions, working groups, and individuals. Together, we have assisted thousands of at-risk scholars from all parts of the world and all disciplines. We have pioneered casework, advocacy, and research activities, and pushed the conversation around academic freedom onto the international policy agenda. We continue to help hundreds more each year, even as we document attacks on universities, campaign for scholars and students in prison, and lead efforts to increase protection, build visibility, and train future generations to take up this work.

Just this year, we made great strides toward our goals. We arranged 320 positions for threatened colleagues. Faculty and student advocates helped win the release of Patrick Zaki in Egypt, while ensuring that those still detained are not forgotten. We have expanded our work to begin building coalitions in every world region to protect and promote academic freedom, even as we have redoubled our efforts here in the US. We strengthened and grew our network, and together demonstrated through our words and our deeds that we will persist in doing everything we can to defend the right to think, question, and share ideas. Throughout, we supported colleagues attacked by governments and non-state actors around the world, including Yemen, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and beyond, even as we continued to work with those impacted by the ongoing crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

As we take a moment to reflect on how far we have come, we are determined to move forward by doing even more to increase protection, build solidarity, and deliver impact. It will not be easy, but the path to a better future never is. We recommit ourselves to this cause and to each other. We stand with threatened colleagues, and will do everything we can to assist as many as we can. And we will reach these new heights with the help of our incredible community of network members, partners, and donors.

It is with the deepest gratitude to this ever-growing community that I share with you this summary of our collective accomplishments over this past year. With your support, we can continue to make a lasting difference for scholars. We could not do this without you, and I look forward to doing even more together in the years ahead.

In solidarity and with deep gratitude, 

ROB QUINN

Scholars at Risk is leading a global movement to protect academic freedom and to support those who face attacks for sharing ideas and asking questions. Our international membership network offers direct assistance to threatened scholars, advocates against attacks on higher education communities, and promotes academic freedom.

SAR works with hundreds of scholars each year, offering comprehensive support to ensure their important work continues. SAR begins by vetting each of the over 1,500 applicants we receive each year. While many of these will not qualify for SAR’s placement services, perhaps because of an inability to travel or lack of academic qualification, SAR provides advice, referrals and information services to as many as possible.

Once SAR has determined we can support an applicant, we work with the scholar to find a host. SAR leverages our network of 664 members to find placement opportunities. SAR helps scholars compile their transcripts and CV, coordinates with prospective hosts, and may even assist scholars and their families with travel arrangements and temporary accommodations.

Once a scholar has arrived at a placement, SAR continues to offer advice during an often-disorienting transitional period. SAR works with hosts to ensure they have the resources and infrastructure to meet the needs of hosted scholars, and SAR stays in contact with scholars as they get their feet back under them.

Afghanistan Response

Within days after the fall of Kabul in 2021, SAR received a rush of urgent requests for help. With the crucial help of our network, partners, and donors, SAR added staff to process the new surge of applications, we revised and streamlined vetting processes, we built new communication networks, and we learned to navigate maddening visa and logistical challenges in a dozen countries.

It was not easy, and it took longer than any of us wanted, but we succeeded in putting in place systems that have been increasingly effective in delivering meaningful help to Afghan colleagues. To date, we have arranged placements for 74 Afghan scholars and practitioners, including 30 placements that are for at least two years, providing essential stability as they adjust to their new settings. So far, 52 candidates have arrived safely at their host campuses, along with 130 spouses, children, and other family members. These placements represent over $5 million of direct support leveraged for the candidates.

In July, SAR hosted a workshop for Afghans, bringing together Afghan scholars and practitioners, SAR staff, and partners to provide career planning, guidance, and community building.

Ukraine Response

The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sent shockwaves around the world, especially Europe’s higher education communities. SAR Europe, launched in 2018 to support the activities of SAR sections and partner networks across Europe, has been working tirelessly to coordinate a response. This year, SAR Europe led a consortium of partners in successfully launching a new dedicated EU-funded fellowship scheme—MSCA4Ukraine—to provide essential support to displaced researchers from Ukraine.

The fellowship scheme will help Ukrainians continue their important research at institutions across the EU, while allowing them to maintain their connections to research and innovation communities in Ukraine, with the hope that, when conditions improve, they may return and restore Ukraine’s higher education community. To date, the scheme has provided fellowship support to 124 researchers taking on work in physics, environmental science, law, and over a dozen other fields, hosted in 21 European countries.

SAR Europe’s efforts have been essential in coordinating this response. Working alongside our partner organizations and the 13 SAR sections in Europe, SAR Europe strengthens our collective voice, and contributes to informed policymaking for the greater protection of scholars and increased respect for academic freedom worldwide.

Members Make a Difference

Network members are key to SAR’s success. SAR is an international network of 664 higher education institutions and associations and thousands of individuals in 43 countries, all working towards the goal of protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom.

Network members are increasingly organized into nationally or regionally focused SAR sections. To date, SAR has 17 sections—from SAR Canada to SAR Switzerland to SAR Australia—each focusing on coordinating activities and leveraging local support for at-risk scholars. Alongside SAR sections, we also partner with 14 leading higher education networks, like the European University Association, together building an ever-expanding community to defend scholars.

This year saw new members joining the network from around the world, including from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Poland. A larger network means new opportunities for at-risk scholars, new partners for our advocacy work, and new supporters in our fight for academic freedom.

SAR Italy and the Growth of SAR Sections

Although SAR Italy is one of the newer sections, the past few years have seen their efforts grow exponentially. The section has grown from 14 founding members in 2019 to 36 members today, with outreach to other institutions continuing.

With this growth, SAR Italy is offering more hosting opportunities. In the wake of the crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine, SAR Italy captured the increased interest among Italian institutions to lend a hand. This past year, 92 temporary positions were created at 16 universities throughout the country. This incredible expansion of activities is allowing more scholars and practitioners to carry on their important work.

SAR Italy members are also taking part in advocacy work alongside other national sections and SAR Europe. Claudia Padovani, a SAR Italy representative, sits on the European Coordinating Committee for Academic Freedom Advocacy, convened by SAR Europe. The Committee works towards greater integration of academic freedom within Europe’s higher education, research, and human rights systems, and encourages European states to take tangible action to promote and protect academic freedom nationally, regionally, and globally. SAR Italy has also joined in SAR advocacy campaigns and has written and submitted several petitions concerning attacks on scholars in Turkey, Belarus, and Ukraine.

Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas

Our efforts to protect at-risk scholars are grounded in the view that people all over the world already value free inquiry and expression—our goal is to connect and support those working to protect these values. In more than two decades of work, we have seen steady growth in participation in SAR related activities in North America and Europe, including hosting, research, teaching, monitoring, publications, workshops, conferences, and advocacy aimed at addressing the root causes of attacks on intellectual freedom. While SAR’s work has always been global in scope, we know that to be the most effective advocates, we need to build a network that is more inclusive and representative. Now, SAR is spearheading a new approach to build a truly global conversation.

Attendees of the CAFA conference on academic freedom

Founded in 2021 in partnership with SAR members University of Monterrey and University of Ottawa, the Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas (CAFA) was created to increase awareness and advocacy in defense of academic freedom across the Americas. This year, CAFA hosted its first conference to discuss the state of academic freedom in the Americas. The conference featured panels and discussions on concerns in the region, notably in Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela. Other discussions included the effects of gender violence on higher education communities, and the impact of censorship and legislative interference on the higher education sector. CAFA’s successful organizing serves as a model for future SAR efforts in other regions.

Academic Freedom in the US

Threats to academic freedom in the US are growing. Over the past decade higher education campuses have become increasingly contentious spaces, mirroring the polarization of US society. External actors across the spectrum have targeted US institutions, leaders, faculty and students for espousing views contrary to their own. Stigmatizing, shaming, shouting-down, demands for resignation or firing, doxing and online intimidation, physical threats, legislative intrusions, and coercive budget actions have been deployed to gain dominance for a particular viewpoint. Vulnerability, grievance, hypersensitivity, and self-censorship have spread, shrinking the space for constructive, evidence-based discourse—space that is essential to democratic debate and top-quality research and teaching.

SAR US General Assembly

SAR is fighting back against these threats to academic freedom. In December, SAR held the first ever General Assembly of the SAR US Section, hosted at SAR member Xavier University. It brought together leaders and advocates from SAR member universities and educational associations across the nation. During the sessions, representatives raised awareness of attacks to scholars, students, and the higher education community and set the section’s protection and advocacy agenda for the coming years.

At such a critical juncture, this in-person assembly provided a forum for the higher education community to discuss opportunities to work together, share experiences, and develop best practices to protect scholars, promote academic freedom, and defend everyone’s freedom to think, question, and share ideas. This special assembly marked a turning point for the US section.

Following a decade of growing membership across the global network, the US Section has recommitted itself to leading the fight for at-risk scholars and academic freedom. In the past two years, SAR members and partners across the US have responded generously to the crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine, while continuing to host scholars from around the world.

Student Advocacy Seminars

Advocacy is most successful when we work together toward a shared goal, when we are creative, and when we are open to learning from each other. For more than a decade, SAR’s advocacy work has been grounded in collaboration— with our faculty and student volunteers, with our partner organizations, and with the broader human rights and higher education communities.

This year, student and faculty participants in SAR’s Student Advocacy Seminars embraced joint activities in support of wrongfully imprisoned scholars and students. Throughout the year, students participating in Student Advocacy Seminars play an increasingly important role in SAR’s advocacy work. Seminar students develop research and leadership skills while advocating on behalf of scholars and students identified by SAR’s Scholars in Prison Project. Over the last eight years, students at more than 40 institutions helped SAR campaign for 20 imprisoned scholars and students. This year alone, over 300 students participated in seminars, running social media campaigns, holding public events, and organizing meetings with public officials to demand global action.

Student Advocacy Days

SAR’s Student Advocacy Days are part of our larger advocacy efforts—both on and off campus. Each year, SAR coordinates our Student Advocacy Days, which brings together students and faculty participating in Student Advocacy Seminars to Washington, DC. This year, over 40 students from the United States and Canada joined SAR for the event. While in DC, SAR connected students from different universities to increase their impact in meetings on Capitol Hill. They shared tips and feedback with each other over lunch in a Senate cafeteria, and they conducted a joint social media campaign to help broadcast their efforts.

The students held 19 meetings with offices of Congressional representatives to discuss concern for wrongfully detained scholars and students from Belarus, China, and Egypt. In the weeks following these meetings, students exchanged emails with representatives and their offices highlighting ways in which Congressional representatives can support wrongfully imprisoned scholars, including through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s Defending Freedoms Project.

In December 2023, SAR plans to host the first-ever European Student Advocacy Days at the University of Trento. Through our continued efforts, SAR is training the next generation of academic freedom advocates.

Patrick Zaki’s Story

After five months of studying at the University of Bologna, Patrick Zaki decided to take a trip back home to Egypt to see family. Patrick was pursuing a master’s degree in Women and Gender Studies in Italy, inspired by his previous work conducting research and advocacy on gender issues and human rights for an Egyptian human rights organization based in Cairo.

But, when Patrick arrived at the Cairo airport, he was questioned and detained by agents. For Patrick, that day, February 7, 2020, would be the last time he was a free man. Over the next almost two years, Patrick was reportedly beaten, stripped, and electrocuted by authorities and suffered from verbal abuse and threats of sexual assault.

Patrick was charged with “joining a terrorist organization” and spreading false information, a charge linked to an article he wrote in 2019 where he reflected on his experiences as a Coptic Christian in Egypt.

Patrick Zaki, Egyptian student at University of Bologna

Scholars in Prison Project

SAR’s Scholars in Prison project was designed to help support people like Patrick, coordinating advocacy on behalf of scholars and students who are wrongfully imprisoned in connection with their academic or expressive activities. SAR reported on his detention through our Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, sent several letters to Egyptian authorities demanding his release, publicized his case through our Free to Think podcast, and worked with network members and partner organizations to advocate on his behalf.

Our advocacy efforts were not in vain. In December 2021, Patrick was released from detention while awaiting trial, but still faced the threat of a guilty verdict and a long prison sentence. This year, after continued advocacy from SAR and our partners, Patrick won a pardon from the Egyptian President. He has since returned to Italy and can continue his studies and continue to advocate for those who have come under threat in Egypt, just like him.

SAR Europe’s Impact

SAR Europe successfully coordinates between at-risk scholars and the many individuals and institutions who have dedicated themselves to building support and solidarity for all who come under threat for sharing ideas and asking questions. In recognition of the shared commitment to excellence in research and to the principle that academic freedom for all is essential for world-class scholarship, SAR Europe and its partners offers guidance to higher education communities and government bodies at the state and European level to protect at-risk scholars. The skills, knowledge, and experiences of these scholars offer untold potential for their particular fields of study and for the host institutions where they continue their important work.

Inspireurope+

In May, SAR Europe took part in the annual Philipp Schwartz Initiative & Inspireurope+ forum in Berlin. Over 350 attendees—including at-risk scholars from around the world, national government officials, and representatives from NGOs, SAR sections, and higher education institutions across Europe—came together for a riveting two-day event. The forum featured workshops for scholars, panels on initiatives to promote academic freedom and support scholars, and informal networking opportunities. The event was an important site for collaboration among participants, many of whom serve on SAR Europe-related committees and advisory boards. Through Inspireurope+ and partner organizations, SAR Europe coordinates and strengthens support for academic freedom.

Arash Nimet was one of several scholars invited to join the forum. Since September 2022, Arash has been in a placement at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, where he has continued his research on the public perception of the COVID-19 vaccine. Before arriving in Sweden, Arash and his family spent almost a year attempting to flee their home in Afghanistan. SAR worked to secure a placement for Arash, allowing him, his wife, and their three children to travel to safety. At the forum this year, Arash was able to connect with other Afghan scholars and participate in workshops on how to find research funding.

Mellon/SAR Fellowships

Despite the importance of academic freedom, very few scholars work on it as a regular part of their professional research or teaching. To address that crucial gap, SAR partnered with the Mellon Foundation to support early career scholars in developing publishable work, especially comparative work involving often neglected perspectives, as a means of cultivating a long-term community of like-minded researchers.

This year, we announced a cohort of six Mellon/SAR fellows from Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Germany, Ghana, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. They are researching issues of academic freedom, free expression, state repression, and democratic backsliding in several countries throughout Africa and South East Asia.