Category Archives: The Maghreb and the Middle East

Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Media Review, June 4 – 10, 2011

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Scholars at Risk would like to draw attention to the killing of Dr. Maksud I. Sadikov, Rector of the Institute of Theology and International Relations in Russia. According to media reports Mr. Sadikov was shot to death in a car in Makhachkala, the capital of the Dagestan region, on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The motives for this apparent assassination are not clear at this time but seem to relate to Dr. Sadikov’s efforts to promote moderate religious education in the region to counter terrorism and extremism in the Caucasus. Please see the following two articles for additional information relating to the killing of Dr. Sadikov:
Rector at Muslim University in Russia Is Shot to Death
Andrew E. Kramer, The New York Times, 6/7
Senior Dagestani Muslim Killed in a Hail of Bullets
Natalya Krainova, The Moscow Times, 6/8
Please find below a compilation of articles in the news media addressing academic freedom issues over the past week.

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The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here.  The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
BC asks for Irish project secrecy
Kevin Cullen, Boston Globe, 6/9
Annual Report 2011 of the Network of Concerned Historians
Antoon De Baets, Network of Concerned Historians, 6/8
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review, May 28-June, 2011

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The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
Iraq: Protest Organizers Beaten, Detained
Human Rights Watch, 6/2
Sri Lanka’s army: In bigger barracks
The Economist, 6/2
Charge Against Professor Raises Questions About Academic Freedom in Thailand
Newley Purnell, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 6/1
Bahrain’s ‘progressive’ influence
Ali M. Latifi, Al Jazeera, 6/1
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review, May 21-27

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The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here/a>. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
New bill will protect academic freedom
Dan Harrison, The Sydney Morning Herald, 5/27
Slår et flerkulturelt slag for akademisk frihet (in Norwegian)
Claudio Castello, Utrop, 5/27
Automatic translation via Google Translator
AAUP Report Denounces Suspension of Idaho State U. Faculty Senate
Peter Schmidt, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 5/26
Intervention From On High
Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, 5/26
Do it! Court greenlights academic freedom 100 days event in Zomba
Raphael Tenthani, The Maravi Post, 5/26
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Headlines from the President's Middle East Policy Speech

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President Barack Obama meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Friday, May 20, 2011.


I always find it interesting to scan headlines after a major policy speech.  The startlingly reveal the biases of the sources, or at least the audiences they seek to attract.  Particularly interesting today are those concerning the meeting between President Obama met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.  I haven’t read all these articles, but here are the headlines with the sources and the links to the articles.  What might you speculate about the articles, the papers or their target audiences?
Netanyahu Tells Obama Israel Can’t Return to ‘Indefensible’ 1967 Borders
Bloomberg – Jonathan Ferziger
Netanyahu and Obama long way apart over Middle East peace plans
The Guardian
President Obama supports a two-state solution based on Israel’s 1967 borders …
Wall Street Journal
Bibi and Barack Meet: So Much for the Fireworks
TIME (blog) – Massimo Calabresi
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review, May 7-13

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The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

 

Yemen: 20 teachers killed since protests began

Education International, 5/12
Uzbek Students From Kyrgyzstan Having Problems In Russia
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 5/12
Fundamental Disagreements
Kevin Kiley, Inside Higher Ed, 5/12
After the Review
Dan Berrett, Inside Higher Ed, 5/11
Chaos at Home Stalls Tuition Aid for Libyan Students in U.S.
Dan Frosch, New York Times, 5/10
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Academic Freedom Media Review – April 16-22, 2011

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The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here.  The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
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Malawi: Political Science Professor Talks About Blogging Academic Freedom
Victor Kaonga, Global Voices Online, 4/22
DUBAI: Scholar’s detention threatens UAE’s reputation
Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 4/21
New crackdown on Iraqi academic elite
NEAR, 4/21
Bahrain’s Crackdown on Protest Extends to Academe, With Interrogations, Firings and Expulsions
David L. Wheeler, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/21
Anti-Israel, Anti-Semitic or Both?
Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, 4/21
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review, April 9-15

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The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of Professor Nasser bin Ghaith of the UAE
Scholars at Risk, 4/15
12 Organizations Ask U. of Virginia to Safeguard Climate Researcher’s Academic Freedom
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/14
Hastings’ board pulls UC brand from rights meeting
Bob Egelko, The San Francisco Chronicle, 4/13
Top PEN Prize to Honor Nasrin Sotoudeh, Jailed Iranian Lawyer, Writer, Activist
PEN, 4/13
Iran: independent civil society organisations ignored over draft law on associations
Education International, 4/12
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Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Media Review, March 19-25

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Scholars at Risk would like to draw attention to the situation surrounding Professor William Cronon of University of Wisconsin at Madison. According to media reports, the university was approached by the Republican Party of Wisconsin with a request, under Wisconsin’s open-records law, for Prof. Cronon’s e-mail records. The request was received just days after Prof. Cronon published a blog post regarding legislation proposed by Republican lawmakers. Please review the following two pieces—one featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, and one written by Prof. Cronon on his blog—for additional information on this case.

Wisconsin GOP Seeks E-Mails of a Madison Professor Who Criticized the Governor
A Tactic I Hope Republicans Will Rethink: Using the Open Records Law to Intimidate Critics
Academic Freedom Media Review
March 19 – 25, 2011
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
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Academic Freedom Media Review, March 12-18

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Here, somewhat late, is the Scholars at Risk Media Review. The delay is my fault, due to a busy weekend and Monday. I apologize.
The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available at here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
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Scholars at Risk calls for letters: Bahraini professor re-imprisoned
Scholars at Risk, 3/18
Tennessee Lawmaker Wants Student Protesters Punished
Quick Takes, Inside Higher Ed, 3/18
Bahrain: University students attacked as violence escalates
Education International, 3/17
Dalhousie medical school to sell Saudis 10 seats
James Bradshaw, The Globe and Mail, 3/17
Iranian university lecturer banned from teaching after publishing critical articles
Network of Education & Academic Rights, 3/16
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Academic Freedom Media Review, March 5-11, 2011

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Compiled by Scholars at Risk
The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available at here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
Presidential duress: fears for Belarusian academic freedom
Colin Graham, Times Higher Education, 3/10
CHINA: Unrest fears prompt alert at universities
Yojana Sharma, University World News, 3/10
Virginia Supreme Court Will Hear Appeal of Climate-Papers Case
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/10
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