News

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

New threats to academic freedom emerge from pandemic

A piece by Brendan O’Malley for University World News covering the Academic Freedom Index, developed by SAR and partners. New threats to academic freedom globally have emerged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to physically distanced

Why university rankings must include academic freedom

A piece co-authored by SAR Executive Director Robert Quinn for University World News. Imagine you are a first-year student starting at one of the world’s top universities. Picture the lecture hall – as it was before the pandemic shifted classes

Reverse the rapid deterioration of academic freedom in Hong Kong

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is concerned that pressures on Hong Kong’s higher education communities have, over recent months, escalated at a rate that threatens scholars and students and risks irreversible damage to the region’s universities. SAR calls on government and

Singapore: Drop police report against independent media outlet New Naratif [Updated Joint Statement]

UPDATE: The Singapore police have summoned PJ Thum, New Naratif’s Founder and Managing Director, for another round of questioning on March 5, 2021. According to Thum, the police have declined to return his laptop and phone, which were seized on September

Submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on China / Hong Kong

SAR submitted the below report to the United Nations’ Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for consideration by the upcoming 69th pre-sessional working group, expressing concerns and issuing recommendations in light of recent attacks on higher education in China/Hong

Submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on Brazil

Professor Saibaba’s life at risk after testing positive for COVID-19

Scholars at Risk joins twenty-two organizations in calling for the immediate release of Professor Saibaba who recently tested positive for COVID-19. Professor Saibaba is a scholar of English and human rights activist, serving a life sentence in Nagpur Central Prison.

Scholars at Risk February 2021 Newsletter

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

Human Rights Council: Countries Should Take Bold Action on Egypt

Monitoring, Tough Message on Dire Rights Situation Long Overdue Geneva, Switzerland — Egypt’s human rights community is facing “annihilation” by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government, more than 100 leading human rights organizations from around the world have warned in a

Biden promises truth after Trump’s lies. How to hold leaders accountable for their words.

A piece by SAR Executive Director Robert Quinn for NBC THINK. President Joe Biden couldn’t have been clearer. At the dawn of his administration, he began with an unequivocal declaration about the fundamental importance truth plays in our democracy —

Turkish historian expelled from university for his views, accused of terrorism

A piece by Ada Chojnowska for wyborcza.pl covering SAR scholar Candan Badem, a Turkish historian. Ada Chojnowska: Can a scientist or historian be political? Prof. Candan Badem: – Surely it can be political in a sense not to please the Turkish

Turkey: Institutional Autonomy Under Threat

Scholars at Risk has joined international partners in endorsing the below petition regarding recent events at Turkey’s Boğaziçi University. On January 1, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointed new rectors to five universities in Turkey. These included appointing Melih Bulu, a

India: Free Dr. GN Saibaba amidst growing concerns for his health

Scholars at Risk joins Freedom Now, PEN International, and International Solidarity for Academic Freedom in India in calling on Indian authorities to ensure the release of Professor Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba amidst growing concerns for his health and well-being. Narendra Modi

Scholars at Risk January 2021 Newsletter

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

Harvard University Awards Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali Scholars at Risk Fellowship

The Scholars at Risk Secretariat welcomes news that Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian scholar at risk of execution, has been awarded a Scholars at Risk (SAR) Fellowship at Harvard University. SAR is grateful to Harvard University for offering this position