Press Releases

UAE: One year on, award-winning human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor’s whereabouts remain unknown

The authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should reveal the whereabouts of prominent human rights defender and citizen-journalist Ahmed Mansoor and release him immediately and unconditionally, over two dozen human rights organisations said today.

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission calls for Prisoners of Conscience Day

Congressmen Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and James P. McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, along with six other members of Congress, have introduced House Resolution 750 calling for the designation of a “Prisoners of Conscience Day”.

Urgent Threats to Academic Freedom in Thailand

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is concerned about recent human rights violations in Thailand that threaten academic freedom and the higher education sector more generally.

Two years since Peace Petition, attacks on higher education sector continue

Scholars at Risk has issued a letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expressing concern for continuing, severe pressures on Turkey's higher education sector and urging his support in reversing these actions.

Wrongfully convicted scholar Ahmadreza Djalali denied appeal of death sentence

According to family sources, an Iranian court has confirmed the death sentence of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, a scholar of disaster medicine who was convicted and sentenced on October 21, in apparent retaliation for his peaceful exercise of the right to

SUNY Stony Brook writer arrested in Cameroon over article criticizing president

On December 7, 2017, Patrice Nganang, a scholar of comparative literature at Stony Brook University (SUNY Stony Brook), was reportedly denied exit from Cameroon and arrested by state authorities, in apparent retaliation for an article he wrote criticizing the Cameroonian

SAR demands respect for due process as Academics for Peace go on trial

Scholars at Risk has issued a letter of appeal in support of scholars being prosecuted for their endorsement of the "Academics for Peace" petition.

European University Association calls on Iran to release Swedish resident scholar sentenced to death

Brussels, Belgium — In a letter dated November 13, 2017, the European University Association (EUA) has called on Iranian authorities to reverse the death sentence against Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali and to ensure his timely release. Dr. Djalali, an Iranian-born resident

SAR calls on Egyptian authorities to drop charges against renowned librarian

Scholars at Risk has called on Egyptian authorities to drop all charges against Dr. Ismail Serageldin, an internationally renowned scholar librarian and former director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA). Dr. Serageldin was sentenced to a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence on July 31, 2017,

Disaster medicine scholar sentenced to death in Iran

Scholars at Risk is gravely concerned by reports that Ahmadreza Djalali, a scholar of disaster medicine, has been sentenced to death in Iran. Dr. Djalali is a permanent resident of Sweden, affiliated with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden and the

SAR calls on Ethiopian authorities to release political scientist Merera Gudina

Scholars at Risk has called on Ethiopian authorities to release and drop all charges against Dr. Merera Gudina, a former professor of political science at Addis Ababa University and the chair of of the Oromo Federalist Congress. Dr. Gudina was arrested

Free to Think 2017: Anti-democratic trends driving increased attacks on higher education worldwide

Scholars at Risk has released Free to Think 2017, an annual report analyzing 257 reported attacks on higher education communities in 35 countries, from September 1, 2016, to August 31, 2017.

SAR recognized with Anne Frank Special Recognition Award

Seventy years ago, “The Diary of Anne Frank” introduced the world to an unforgettable voice. Through her diary, Anne Frank illustrated how education engaged and sustained her while she lived in hiding as a refugee in the Netherlands during World

Denial of asylum to Dr. Radwan Ziadeh on dubious grounds would harm free expression, peacebuilding around the world

Washington, D.C. — A coalition of human rights advocacy groups has called on members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate the United States Customs and Immigration Service’s announcement that it intends to deny Syrian writer, scholar, and human rights

‘We Are Syrians’ is the story of dissenters fighting for their country

When the Assad government wanted to silence them, Naila Al-Atrash, a theatre director, Radwan Ziadeh, an intellectual, and Sana Mustafa, a student organizer, refused to stop making their voices heard. They organized, they protested, they made art. Editors Adam Braver