Middle East Studies Association | –
Update: Dr. Abedini has been released from detention.
The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) was disturbed to learn of the detention of Dr. Vahid Abedini, the Farzaneh Family Assistant Professor of Iranian Studies at the University of Oklahoma (OU). Dr. Abedini was detained on November 22 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before boarding a flight to attend the MESA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
Dr. Abedini is a political scientist working in the U.S. under an H-1B visa. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Florida International University and served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas prior to his employment at OU, where he currently teaches.
MESA remains deeply concerned about the circumstances of the detention of Dr. Abedini, a MESA member.
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Posts from MESA members for Context:
Excellent news: Professor Vahid Abedini has been released pic.twitter.com/DE9Y8LzTzo
— Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr) November 25, 2025
ICE arrested our beloved professor Vahid Abedini.
He is Farzaneh Family Assistant Prof of Iranian Studies at the University of Oklahoma's @OklahomaU's Boren College of International Studies @oucis
Dr. Abedini was boarding a flight on his way to attend the Middle East Studies Association (@MESA_1966
) in Washington DC when he was detained and put to jail. Nov 22.He has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa —a non-immigrant work visa granted to individuals in “specialty occupations,” including higher education faculty.
We are praying for his swift release.… pic.twitter.com/wKctX82py3
— Joshua Landis (@joshua_landis) November 24, 2025
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