News

Network announcements, press releases and other updates from the SAR Secretariat

Universities’ relevance hinges on academic freedom

A piece by Kristen Lyons for the Conversation covering the conditions in which academic freedom can flourish. The latest special issue of Australian Universities’ Review is devoted to Academic Freedom’s Precarious Future. Contributing authors identify how the pressures on universities in Australia

Scholars at Risk to the Council of the EU Working Party on Human rights (COHOM): Myanmar at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC 47)

In advance of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC 47), Scholars at Risk urges COHOM to address the widespread human rights violations by Myanmar’s military and police following the February 1 military coup and their disastrous impact on Myanmar’s higher

Scholars at Risk to the Council of the EU Working Party on Human rights (COHOM): Belarus at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC 47)

In advance of UN Human Rights Council (HRC 47), Scholars at Risk urges COHOM and the Human Rights Council to take measures to address the ongoing attacks on the higher education community in Belarus, and to support students and scholars

Universities push governments to protect academics in Belarus

An article by Pola Lem in Research Professional News covering the joint statement by SAR, EUA, and ESU calling on Belarusian authorities to protect academic freedom. European University Association says its members are “ready to take students in” with EU

‘Criminalisation’ of Belarus students, academics condemned

A piece by Brendan O’Malley for University World News covering the joint statement by SAR, EUA, and ESU calling on Belarusian authorities to protect academic freedom. The European University Association (EUA), the European Students’ Union (ESU) and Scholars at Risk

Egypt: Human Rights Organizations Condemn the Rotation of Ahmed Samir Santawy in a New Case and Call for Releasing Him

The undersigned organizations condemn new criminal investigations against researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy and his ongoing arbitrary detention, which stems from his academic work on women’s sexual and reproductive rights. We are alarmed by reports that Ahmed Samir Santawy had been

Belarus: EUA, ESU and SAR call on Europe to take action against criminalisation of students and academics

The European University Association (EUA), the European Students’ Union (ESU) and Scholars at Risk (SAR) join together to condemn the criminalisation of students and academics in Belarus. They call on the Belarusian authorities to protect and promote academic freedom and

Release Detained Belarusian Students

Scholars at Risk has sent to Belarusian authorities the below letter raising concern over the detention of a growing number of students in apparent retaliation for their nonviolent participation in protests across Belarus. SAR calls on Belarusian authorities to secure

Scholars at Risk May 2021 Newsletter

Scholars at Risk is pleased to share their May 2021 Newsletter. Click here to read this document.

Decline Sheikh Zayed Book Award in light of human rights violations in the UAE

Scholars at Risk (SAR) joins 26 organizations in asking the recipients of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award to decline the award and withdraw from the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in light of human rights abuses in the United Arab

Sinead O’Gorman: Academic freedom in a complex world

SAR Europe Director Sinead O’Gorman spoke with the European Association for International Education about the history of Scholars at Risk and its fight for academic freedom. Listen to the episode here.

Grant Thai students the right to bail

Scholars at Risk (SAR) has sent to Thai authorities the below letter raising concern over the rapidly deteriorating health of two detained students, Mr. “Penguin” Parit Chiwarak and Ms. “Rung” Panusaya Sitthijirawattanakul. SAR calls on Thai authorities to immediately secure

China: Revoke sanctions on international scholars and respect free and open scholarly inquiry

Scholars at Risk (SAR) denounces China’s sanctions on scholars and academic institutions in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) for their research activities—a grave threat to global academic freedom. SAR calls on Chinese authorities to revoke the

Researchers fleeing persecution are being supported into skilled posts in industry, writes Peter McGuire

A piece by Peter McGuire for Maynooth University covering Scholars at Risk and the Inspireurope project. The shelling hit Damascus in 2012. Profesor Souad Odeh, a lecturer in information science, knew she had to escape the escalating Syrian civil war.

Universities call for Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali’s release

On the five-year anniversary of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali’s arrest, Scholars at Risk (SAR) remains alarmed at his continued detention and repeated denial of medical care, and encourages immediate action to rectify the human rights violations surrounding his arrest, detention, and