Press Releases and Statements

Free Dr. Abdul Jalil Al-Singace on 100th day of hunger strike

Today marks Dr. Abdul Jalil Al-Singace’s 100th day on a hunger strike in Jau Prison, Bahrain. For the past ten years, Dr. Al-Singace has been serving a life sentence for his nonviolent participation in a pro-democracy protest in 2011. Dr.

Scholars at Risk awarded the 2021 International Science Council Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award

October 13th, 2021 – The International Science Council (ISC) has announced Scholars at Risk (SAR) as the recipient of their Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award, in recognition of “outstanding contribution to defending and promoting the free and responsible practice of

Drop charges and immediately release Patrick George Zaki

Scholars at Risk sent to Egyptian authorities the below letter raising concern over the recent indictment against Patrick George Zaki, a postgraduate student of gender studies at the University of Bologna, Italy. Mr. Zaki is awaiting trial before the Mansoura

Xavier University of Louisiana Provost Named Chair of the SAR United States Section

New Orleans, LA — Scholars at Risk (SAR) named Dr. Anne McCall, Xavier University of Louisiana provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, chair of the SAR United States Section. Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of

Open appeal to UN Member States to ensure the adoption of a resolution creating an investigative mechanism on Afghanistan at the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council

We, the undersigned organisations, write to urge UN Member States to ensure the adoption of a robust resolution to establish a Fact-Finding Mission or similar independent investigative mechanism on Afghanistan as a matter of priority at the upcoming 48th regular

Saudi Arabia: Urgent Appeal to Reverse Mass Dismissals of Yemeni Scholars

Scholars at Risk (SAR) has issued the below letter to Saudi Arabian officials expressing concern over reports that Yemeni scholars and other professionals in Saudi Arabia’s southern provinces are being dismissed from their positions and face deportation from the country.

Urgent appeal to European Governments and EU Institutions: Take Action for Afghanistan’s scholars, researchers, and civil society actors

We, the undersigned higher education associations, networks, and leaders in the field of scholar protection, urge European governments and EU institutions to take immediate action to secure the lives and careers of Afghanistan’s scholars, students, and civil society actors. Many

Urgent appeal for Afghanistan’s scholars, students, practitioners, civil society leaders, and activists

Scholars at Risk (SAR), in partnership with over 150 higher education institutions, associations, networks, and over 3,500 professionals and students concerned about colleagues in Afghanistan, has sent the below letter to US government officials urging them to take immediate action

Release Niloufar Bayani on medical grounds

Scholars at Risk has sent to Iranian authorities the below letter raising concern for the well-being of Niloufar Bayani, a wrongfully imprisoned researcher and conservationist who is suffering from COVID-19. SAR calls on Iranian authorities to secure Ms. Bayani’s immediate

Rights Groups Urge Bahrain to Release Dr Abduljalil Al Singace, Jailed Academic on Hunger Strike

30 July 2021 – 16 leading human rights groups including Amnesty International, Scholars at Risk and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy have issued a statement calling for the release of jailed Bahraini academic, blogger and human rights defender

International community must save Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali before it’s too late

Scholars at Risk joins 13 human rights organizations and academic associations in calling on the European Union, European state governments, and the United States government to secure the release of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali. You may support Dr. Djalali by signing

SAR urges Venezuela to protect academic freedom, student expression

For more than two decades, scholars, students and higher education institutions in Venezuela have faced systemic pressures, including severe encroachments on university autonomy, targeted denials of funding to disfavored institutions, and individual attacks, such as arbitrary detention, arrest, and violence.

Human Rights Organizations Call on President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to Quash Ahmed Samir Santawy’s Verdict

Scholars at Risk has joined 60 human rights organizations in calling on President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to quash the verdict against postgraduate student Ahmed Samir Santawy. See the below statement in English, French, and Arabic. Sign this letter to join

United States: Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education About Racism and American History

Scholars at Risk has joined PEN America, the American Historical Association (AHA), and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), and other partners in endorsing the below statement regarding recent state legislative

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