SAR in the Press

The following includes select interviews, articles, and op-eds by or about Scholars at Risk and its network.

Who is afraid of academic freedom?

A piece by Sebastian Faber for Revista Contexto on cancel culture and threats against academic freedom. SAR Executive Director Robert Quinn describes political interventions directed at universities, as well as how academic freedom is a human right. Read more here.

Science Friction with Natasha Mitchell: What happens when your students join the Taliban? Afghan scientists in hiding

SAR Executive Director Robert Quinn spoke with ABC Radio National about the developing situation in Afghanistan and how the recent takeover by the Taliban has impacted higher education in the country. Listen to the episode here.

Our Universities Can Save Afghanistan’s Best and Brightest | Opinion

A piece by SAR Executive Director Robert Quinn and Allida Black for Newsweek covering universities efforts to assist at-risk scholars in Afghanistan. As fascism swept 1930s Europe, some universities paid little attention. Others rejected domestic panic, set aside prejudices, ignored

Brown, RISD join colleges vowing to help scholars from Afghanistan

A piece by Edward Fitzpatrick for The Boston Globe covering Scholars at Risk’s efforts to assist at-risk scholars in Afghanistan. PROVIDENCE — Scholars in Afghanistan, especially women, are facing threats from the Taliban and many are trying to flee the

‘Over 100 European institutions ready to host Afghan scholars’

A piece by Ben Upton for Research Professional News covering calls to protect academics in Afghanistan. The support and advocacy charity Scholars at Risk has told Research Professional News that more than 100 institutions in Europe have expressed an interest in

Flight From Afghanistan

A piece by Elizabeth Redden for Inside Higher Ed covering evacuation efforts in Afghanistan. Efforts continue to rescue scholars, students and higher education personnel in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover and the collapse of the Afghan government eight days ago. President Joe Biden

‘I don’t want to die.’ Afghan researchers fear for their safety—and the future of science

A piece by Richard Stone for Science Magazine covering the safety of academics in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Twice the Taliban tried to kill Khyber Mashal*. Its first attempt was in 2009, when the Afghan scientist was working on

Global calls to protect Afghan academics from Taliban

A piece by Pola Lem for Research Professional News covering calls to protect academics in Afghanistan. Dozens of governments and humanitarian groups, alongside hundreds of academics, have called for international support to be provided to students and researchers in Afghanistan—especially

Fear for the Future

A piece by Elizabeth Redden for Inside Higher Ed covering the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. Ahmad Zahid Mujaddedi logged in for a Zoom call late Saturday night after a long day helping distribute clothing and blankets collected for internally displaced

Press Release: Cooperation between AUTh and SAR Network for the protection of academics at risk

On the occasion of the International Refugee Day on June 20, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is pleased to announce the recent signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the International Network for the Protection of Academics at Risk (Scholars

Universities’ relevance hinges on academic freedom

A piece by Kristen Lyons for the Conversation covering the conditions in which academic freedom can flourish. The latest special issue of Australian Universities’ Review is devoted to Academic Freedom’s Precarious Future. Contributing authors identify how the pressures on universities in Australia

Universities push governments to protect academics in Belarus

An article by Pola Lem in Research Professional News covering the joint statement by SAR, EUA, and ESU calling on Belarusian authorities to protect academic freedom. European University Association says its members are “ready to take students in” with EU

‘Criminalisation’ of Belarus students, academics condemned

A piece by Brendan O’Malley for University World News covering the joint statement by SAR, EUA, and ESU calling on Belarusian authorities to protect academic freedom. The European University Association (EUA), the European Students’ Union (ESU) and Scholars at Risk

Sinead O’Gorman: Academic freedom in a complex world

SAR Europe Director Sinead O’Gorman spoke with the European Association for International Education about the history of Scholars at Risk and its fight for academic freedom. Listen to the episode here.

Researchers fleeing persecution are being supported into skilled posts in industry, writes Peter McGuire

A piece by Peter McGuire for Maynooth University covering Scholars at Risk and the Inspireurope project. The shelling hit Damascus in 2012. Profesor Souad Odeh, a lecturer in information science, knew she had to escape the escalating Syrian civil war.