Academic Freedom
Academic freedom in the Arab world has been increasingly undermined and strained. Individually and collectively, the freedom to access, create and share knowledge to serve communities through research, documentation, discussion and creativity faces the challenges of censorship and heavy state interference.
Academic freedom doesn’t sit alone in societies but is part of the broader freedoms of expression exercised by artists, journalists, writers, and the public at large. Al-Fanar Media believes in the importance of researchers’ and academics’ personal autonomy and independence, as well as the significance of free speech and critical debate. We report on infringements of academic freedom in the Middle East and North Africa, the interference in the management of higher education institutions, the arrests of researchers, university staff and students. We also cover the efforts that governments and institutions are doing to preserve the right to academic freedom.
We hope through our articles to keep the discussion around academic freedom in the MENA region alive, to contribute to the reduction of censorship in higher education institutions and research.
Below are a series of articles and stories around the subject of academic freedom in the Arab world.
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News & Reports
Egyptian Court Puts Police Back on Campus
More signs are emerging of diminishing academic freedom: One of the crackdown's most prominent targets speaks out.
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News & Reports
In Tunisia, Academic “Families” Protect University Campuses
As police mostly stay off campus, networks of students and staff members have rallied to act as informal university security.
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Opinion
Emad Shahin: Letter from an Accused Academic
A prominent scholar at the American University of Cairo responds to charges of "grand espionage".
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News & Reports
New Home for Many Egyptian Academics: Jail
With more Egyptian professors and students behind bars, some of them have begun a hunger strike.
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News & Reports
Egyptian Court Bans “Unapproved” Campus Protests
The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters wants to stop campus protests that do not have official permission.
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News & Reports
Calls for Arab Academic Freedom Echo Across the Atlantic
A U.S. meeting follows up on a Tunisian one, pointing out that academic freedom is vital not only for universities,…
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News & Reports
Egyptian Academics Arrested in the Crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood
At least 70 professors have been arrested in the Egyptian government's anti-Muslim Brotherhood crackdown. Opinions are mixed as to the…
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News & Reports
Looking Behind the Egyptian Student Protests
Street protests against the military-backed government have subsided, leaving campus protests as a focal point of political friction.
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News & Reports
Yemen’s Largest University Is Shut Down
Sana’a University has been riddled by student protests, threats of violence, and students’ complaints that they can’t afford the university…
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News & Reports
Some Academics Want to ‘Get Off the Sidelines’ to Help Syrians
In a panel discussion at the New School, academics discussed the international community's efforts to protect the world's latest "war…
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