On January 22, 2023, an explosive device was detonated at the house of University of Misan professor Uday Jassim Muhammad.

Muhammad is a professor of administration and economics and the director of the university’s Financial and Administrative Affairs Department.

According to the University of Misan, the explosion occurred at 2:00 am, causing damage to the home and Muhammad’s car. As of this report, there were no casualties. The suspect(s) have not been publicly identified by authorities.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about a targeted, violent attack on a scholar. In addition to the potential harm and personal risk to the victim and their family, such attacks target higher education’s core values, including academic freedom, the free exchange of ideas, and social responsibility. State authorities are responsible for safeguarding these values by taking all reasonable steps to ensure the security of higher education communities and their members, including a responsibility to deter future attacks by investigating incidents and making every effort to hold perpetrators accountable, consistent with internationally recognized standards. Members of society similarly have a responsibility to help safeguard the higher education space by pressing demands to state authorities for greater protection and accountability, and by contributing to efforts to understand and reinforce principles of autonomy and academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://mustaqila.com/استهداف-احد-اساتذة-جامعة-ميسان-والمطا/
https://shafaq.com/ar/مجتـمع/ميسان-استهداف-منزل-استاذ-جامعي-بعبوة-ناسفة-ودعوات-لسن-قوانين-
تحمي-الملاكات-التدريسية
https://www.iqiraq.news/society/46245–.html