Press Releases and Statements

Free to Think 2022: Armed conflict and clampdowns on discourse and dissent threaten scholars and students around the world

NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2022 — Scholars at Risk (SAR) has released Free To Think 2022, a report analyzing 391 attacks in 65 countries and territories, between September 1, 2021 and August 31, 2022. The report underscores the pervasive and

Israel: SAR files submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review

On October 11, 2022, SAR submitted a report on Israel to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The report, which was prepared with assistance from the University of Turino’s Strategic Litigation International Legal Human Rights Clinic, focuses on attacks

SAR Student Advocacy Seminars Advocated for 10 Unjustly Imprisoned Scholars and Students in the 2021-22 Year

[NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2022] — Scholars at Risk (SAR) published its inaugural Student Advocacy Seminar end-of-year report detailing the research and advocacy work of over 320 students at 16 universities in 8 different countries during the 2021-2022 academic year.

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