Press Releases and Statements

Immediately release Marfa Rabkova

Scholars at Risk sent the below letter to authorities in Belarus expressing grave concern over the 15 year prison sentence given to Marfa Rabkova and calling for her immediate release. After nearly two years in pretrial detention, on September 6,

Saudi Authorities Must Release Women’s Rights Activist Salma al-Shehab (Joint Statement)

We, the undersigned NGOs, call on the international community to press Saudi Arabian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release women’s rights activist and academic Salma al-Shehab, who was recently sentenced to 34 years in prison based on tweets in support

Joint Letter to Bahrain King: Free 400-day hunger striker Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace

Scholars at Risk joins 14 organizations in calling Bahraini authorities to release Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace as he reaches the 400th day of his hunger strike. King of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Shaikh

MSCA4Ukraine Fellowship Programme: Preliminary information for applicants

As part of the EU’s response to the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, a new dedicated fellowship scheme — MSCA4Ukraine — will provide support to displaced researchers from Ukraine. This support will enable displaced researchers to continue their work at

Urgent appeal to save Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, at risk of imminent execution

Scholars at Risk sent the below letter to officials from the EU, UK, US, and UN urging them to do everything in their power to halt the imminent execution and secure the immediate release of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali. Last month,

Repression of Anti-CAA Protesters and Kashmiri Community Mar Academic Freedom Conditions in India

Crackdowns on scholars and students protesting national human rights abuses and heightened concerns for the Kashmiri higher education community figured prominently in a submission to the UN's Universal Periodic Review

Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali remains at imminent risk of execution

Iranian authorities have apparently postponed the execution of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali; however, he remains at imminent risk of execution. Earlier this month, Iranian authorities stated that they were planning to execute Dr. Djalali by May 21. Yesterday, the spokesperson of

Repression of Indonesia’s Higher Education Community Threatens Future Progress

A pattern of repression targeting outspoken scholars and students threatens academic freedom and the development of Indonesian higher education, according to the Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom and Scholars at Risk.

Halt the execution of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali

Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali is at risk of imminent execution by May 21. SAR issued the below letter to Iranian authorities urging them to immediately halt the execution and secure his release so he may return to his wife and children

Protect and promote international academic travel to the West Bank

Scholars at Risk has issued the below letter expressing concern over an Israeli government directive that will severely restrict international scholars’ and students’ travel to and work in the West Bank. Set to go into effect in May 2022, the

Brazil: Decline in Academic Freedom Requires UN’s Attention

Beginning with the 2018 presidential campaign and election of President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s higher education community has faced dramatically increasing threats to academic freedom and institutional autonomy. The government has increased control over the university space by cutting funds to

Release Belarusian Students

Scholars at Risk sent the below letter to Belarusian authorities urging them to secure the immediate release of 11 students and one professor serving prison sentences of two years to two and a half years in apparent retaliation for their

Intervene to Help Sharif University of Technology Students

Scholars at Risk sent the below letter to Iran’s higher education, research, and science sectors, urging them to do all in their power to help secure the immediate release of Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi. Mr. Younesi and Mr. Moradi

Rights Groups Letter to F1 CEO Ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix

Scholars at Risk, along with 26 international human rights organizations, issued a letter to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix raising human rights concerns in Bahrain. The letter, which sheds light on the case of imprisoned

Open Letter Against National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Restrictions (2022-2023 Guidelines)

Scholars at Risk joined more than 20 international associations and organizations and 350 scholars in endorsing International Solidarity for Academic Freedom India’s open letter to India’s Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment. The letter outlines numerous objections to recent