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
Palestinian Universities Say Israeli Restrictions Force Foreign Professors Out
International academics face increasing difficulties in getting visas to work at Palestinian universities. Some see a campaign to harm Palestinian…
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News & Reports
American U. in Cairo Cancels an Endowed Chair; Questions Follow
The AUC professor of comparative religion who lost the title says his academic freedom was infringed. The university says it…
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News & Reports
Freedom of Creativity Is Under Siege in Egypt
Publishers, authors and bookstore owners feel pressure as the government clamps down on books with political content.
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News & Reports
Conference on Aid to Yemen Highlights Support for Education
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates pledged to increase their humanitarian aid, including money for teachers’ pay. It’s unclear,…
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News & Reports
Rift Widens Between American University in Cairo’s Faculty Members and Its Leadership
Faculty members have voted no confidence in the institution’s president. The board of trustees has unanimously backed him, leaving the…
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Opinion
Of Scholars and Spies
Recent headlines involving researchers accused of spying in the Middle East highlight the risk of asking questions in a police…
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News & Reports
Spy Conviction May Chill U.A.E. Research
Matthew Hedges, a U.K. doctoral student convicted in the United Arab Emirates of spying for Britain, has been pardoned and…
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News & Reports
Academic Freedom Project Highlights Arab, Turkish Cases
Situations in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Israel are highlighted in a new global report that documents attacks on higher…
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Opinion
Book Banning in Kuwait: Whatever Next?
A committee of the country’s ministry of information has the power to ban books, in an affront to the country’s…
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News & Reports
A Refugee Camp’s Teachers Get Some Welcome Global Support
A training and mentoring program helps make them better teachers and gives them new confidence.
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