SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: March 18, 2014

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):University of Sirt - Medical School

Region & Country:Northern Africa | Libya

New or Ongoing:New Incident

Adison Karkha, a 54 year old Christian Iraqi Professor working in the Medical School at the University of Sirt in Libya, was reportedly killed on his way to work by unidentified gunmen on March 18, 2014.

Professor Karkha served at the Sirt University for 15 years.  As of this report, the motives behind the killing are not known, security forces have not identified any suspects, and no group has claimed responsibility.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the apparently targeted killing of a professor. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such incidents have a chilling effect on academic freedom and institutional autonomy. State officials have a responsibility to ensure the security of higher education communities, to prevent future attacks, and to hold perpetrators accountable
 
Sources:
http://www.iraqhurr.mobi/a/25301291.html
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/18/report-christian-iraqi-professor-killed-in-libyan-central-city/
http://www.mofa.gov.iq/ab/articles/print.aspx?id=8FMN70L2JvI=
http://www.akhbarelyoum.dz/ar/200243/200254/101441-2014-03-18-173751
http://aljamahir.amuntada.com/t21488-topic
http://iraqelan.com/index.php/2014-01-10-23-22-48/10088-2014-03-18-21-00-24