Committee on Academic Freedom

Committee on Academic Freedom of the Middle East Studies Association seeks to foster the free exchange of knowledge as a human right and to inhibit infringements on that right by government restrictions on scholars. The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provide the principal standards by which human rights violations are identified today. Those rights include the right to education and work, freedom of movement and residence, and freedom of association and assembly.

Academic Freedom

Protesting the U of Arkansas for Removing Middle East Center Director over her Condemnation of the Bombing of Iran

Her extramural speech on matters of public concern were within her scholarly expertise on the politics of the Middle East

Academic Freedom

Rebuking UC Berkeley over Suspension of Lecturer for Palestine Advocacy

Committee on Academic Freedom

An examination of the allegations casts doubt on Provost Hermalin’s findings, pointing to a desire to punish his ethical commitment

censorship

Rebuking U of Guelph for Cancellation of People’s Conference for Palestinian Solidarity

Committee on Academic Freedom

Grave concern about the University of Guelph’s decision to cancel the second annual People’s Conference for Palestinian Solidarity

Canada

Protesting Canada’s Detention of Former UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk over Palestine Rights Advocacy

Committee on Academic Freedom

Outrage at the unjustified harassment that Richard Falk, former UN Special Rapporteur was subjected to by agents of the Canada Border Services

Academic Freedom

Protesting U of Tennessee’s Firing of Professor Tamar Shirinian for Protected Speech

Committee on Academic Freedom

Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | – Letter to the Chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, denouncing the suspension pending termination of Professor Tamar Shirinian Donde Plowman Chancellor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville chancellor@utk.edu Dear Chancellor Plowman: We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North […]

Academic Freedom

Protesting Northwestern U’s Flawed Compulsory Training on Criticism of Israel as “Antisemitism”

Committee on Academic Freedom

Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | – Letter to Northwestern University expressing concern about its flawed compulsory anti-bias training and its threats against students who refuse to complete it Henry S. Bienen Interim President, Northwestern University nupresident@northwestern.edu Dear President Bienen and Colleagues: We write on behalf of the Middle […]

censorship

Protesting the Suspension of a Scholar at the University of Kentucky for Statements on Palestine

Committee on Academic Freedom

Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association of North America | – Letter to the University of Kentucky regarding the suspension of Professor Ramsi Woodcock for his statements about Palestine Eli Capilouto President, University of Kentucky elic@uky.edu James C. Duff Dean, J. David Rosenberg College of Law University of Kentucky jim.duff@uky.edu […]

Academic Freedom

Protesting UC Berkeley handing Names of Faculty and Students to Dept. of Education

Committee on Academic Freedom

Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association of North America | – Letter to UC Berkeley regarding the university’s submission to the Department of Education of 160 names of persons associated with allegations of antisemitism President James B. Milliken Office of the President University of California president@ucop.edu Chancellor Rich Lyons Office of […]

Israel/ Palestine

The West Needs to Expedite Visas, Study Permits, Safe Passage for Palestinians in Gaza

Committee on Academic Freedom

Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association of North America | – Letter to Canadian officials about visas and study permits for Palestinian scholars The Right Honourable Mark Carney Prime Minister of Canada pm@pm.gc.ca . . . Dear Prime Minister Carney, Minister Metlege Diab and Minister Anadasangaree: We write on behalf […]