censorship

I’m RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here’s what I’ve been following during the past week and what I’m watching for in the days ahead. The Big Issue ( RFE/RL ) – A revolutionary court in Iran this week began the trials of two female journalists who helped break the story of Mahsa Amini’s death. Amini’s death […]

Anti-intellectualism

“A war on higher education in our state” NC faculty group pens open letter opposing slate of higher ed-related bills

NC Newsline

By: Joe Killian – ( NC Newsline ) – The North Carolina chapter of the American Association of University Professors released an open letter Wednesday opposing a slate of higher education-related bills the group says will threaten academic freedom, diversity efforts and non-partisan university governance. Taken together, the letter says, the proposed changes “effectively […]

censorship

20 Years After Deadly US Attack, Free Press Still Threatened in Iraq

Human Rights Watch

Sarah Sanbar Iraq Researcher, Middle East and North Africa Division @SarahSanbar ( Human Rights Watch ) – April 8 is a day that lives in infamy for media in Iraq. 20 years ago, two American missiles hit the Al Jazeera offices in Baghdad, killing a reporter and wounding a cameraman. Shortly afterwards, American forces […]

Authoritarianism

In Bad Sign for Climate Summit, Oil-Rich UAE warns Conference Attendees against Criticizing Government

Human Rights Watch

Katharina Rall Senior Researcher, Environment and Human Rights @katha_nina ( Human Rights Watch) – Speakers at a recent climate and health summit in Abu Dhabi were advised by the conference organizers not to “criticize Islam, the government, corporations or individuals” or protest while in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a recent investigation […]

censorship

Protesting the Imprisonment of Professor Awad al-Qarni, Popular Religious Reformer, by Saudi Arabia

Committee on Academic Freedom

Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | – March 09, 2023 His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Fax: (via Ministry of the Interior) +966 11 403 3125 His Royal Highness Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud Crown Prince, Kingdom […]

censorship

No, Discussing Israel’s ‘Right to Exist’ is not Antisemitic; States don’t have Rights, People Do

Middle East Monitor

By Nasim Ahmed | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – “Israel’s right to exist” has been challenged in expert testimonies by leading scholars Professor John Douglas and Professor Avi Shlaim. Dugard is an advocate of the High Court of South Africa. He has served intermittently as Judge of the International Court of Justice. His […]

censorship

You can’t be for Liberty if you’re for banning Books

Iowa Capital Dispatch

By Bill Tubbs | – ( Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Two years ago in my column in the North Scott Press, I introduced “Signs that the Apocalypse is Upon Us,” to call attention to items which, though they are actually happening, are so surreal that it seems the end of time must be near. Gov. […]

censorship

Keeping Resistance Alive during McCarthyism: Chandler Davis and Academic Freedom at the University of Michigan

Alan M. Wald

Alan Wald, Steve Batterson and Peggie Hollingsworth | University of Michigan | – Making Michigan lecture series – Keeping Resistance Alive “In 1954, Chandler Davis was called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. His fellows on the stand were his colleagues Mark Nickerson and Clement L. Markert, and his student friends Edward […]

censorship

Right-Wing Pro-Israeli Group Standwithus, close to Israeli Gov’t, Harasses GWU Professor

Committee on Academic Freedom

Middle East Studies Association – Committee on Academic Freedom | – Letter to the president of GWU regarding Professor Lara Sheehi President Mark S. Wrighton Office of the President The George Washington University 1918 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20052 via email: bfreyre@gwu.edu Dear President Wrighton: We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies […]