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
Palestine’s Research Capacity Is Limited by Multiple Challenges, Scholars Say
Speakers at a webinar sponsored by Scientists for Palestine discuss the problems that hinder academics’ ability to conduct research in…
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News & Reports
New Israeli Restrictions on Foreign Scholars at Palestinian Universities Stir Outrage
Palestinian academics say new limits set by Israel seek to isolate their universities from the world and curtail their educational…
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News & Reports
Revisiting the Past in Books That Blend Fiction and Facts
Egyptian critics and writers discuss a literary trend of revisiting the past through personalized remembrances and novels based on facts.
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News & Reports
2 Kuwaiti Female Academics Use Research to Defend Rights of the Marginalised
The scholars have experienced gender and other forms of discrimination. They want their research to benefit women and other marginalized…
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News & Reports
‘Free to Think 2021’ Documents a Year of Attacks on Education
The latest “Free to Think” report from Scholars at Risk documents 332 attacks on scholars, students, and academic institutions around…
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News & Reports
Palestinian Universities Are Urged to Help Prisoners to Complete Higher Education
Academics support the initiative launched from an Israeli prison by the Palestinian parliamentarian Khalida Jarrar.
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News & Reports
Sudanese Professors Push to Make New Faculty Unions Independent
Public university professors are electing independent unions to replace the former government-appointed ones. But some are unhappy that the bodies…
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News & Reports
Palestine Academic Group Rallies Support for the Palestinian Cause
The group, launched by professors two years ago, lobbies governments and fellow academics to defend their homeland's cause abroad.
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Opinion
How Academic Freedom Can Be Enriched in Arab Universities
Academic freedom has been both neglected and misused in the Arab world, says a Tunisian academic. He offers ideas for…
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