NEAR Newsletter March 2009
Welcome to the NEAR Newsletter. In this edition you will find our most recent Action Alerts and also an ‘Academic Freedom in the Media’ section, listing news by country (March 2009). Any comments and suggestions about the content and layout of the newsletter will be gratefully received at roisin.joyce@nearinternational.org.
NEAR Action Alerts *Taken from the NEAR website
Zimbabwe: University of Zimbabwe Closes Following Protests
On Tuesday 3rd February the University of Zimbabwe was officially closed following a series of demonstrations by students and teachers about university fees and salaries. Seventy five students were reportedly arrested during ‘The National Campaign against Dollarization in Zimbabwe’.
China: Chinese Historian Released From Prison But Unable to Travel
On the 10 February 2009, Tohti Tunyaz, a Uighur historian and writer from China, was released from prison after serving an 11 year sentence. Tohti was charged with ‘instigating national disunity’ and ‘stealing state secrets,’ yet the evidence for these crimes remains thin. He currently faces restrictions that prevent him from rejoining his family in Japan.
Afghanistan: Call for Release of Afghan Student
New evidence has emerged in the case of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, an Afghan student sentenced to 20 years in prison for blasphemy. The 24-year-old was arrested after downloading an essay which questioned Islam’s treatment of women and prosecutors have pinned their case on claims that he wrote part of the text himself.
United Kingdom: Rt Hon David Lammy MP in Conversation with Persecuted Academics
On Monday 27th April an event organised by the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA) in conjunction with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) will take place at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
** Please continue to send us any relevant cases involving threats to academic freedom and education rights, for potential alerts.
Academic Freedom in the Media *By country, taken from the NEAR website
Afghanistan
Afghanistan: 20-Year Sentence for Journalist Upheld
Human Rights Watch, 10/03/2009
New evidence 'proves' that Pervez should be released
The Independent, 19/03/2009
China
HK concern over Macau entry ban
BBC News, 04/03/2009
China: New Restrictions Target Media
Human Rights Watch, 18/03/2009
Universities must prevent and punish academic plagiarism
Xinhua News, 20/03/2009
Colombia
The killing of teachers in Colombia should stop, says EI
Education International, 12/03/2009
Egypt
Egypt: Academics warn of new strike over wages
University World News, 08/03/2009
Egypt: Future of teacher colleges uncertain
University World News, 22/03/2009
France
FRANCE: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité - but not yet
University World News, 15/03/2009
France: Strikes continue despite teacher-training concession
University World News, 29/03/2009
Iran
Iran arrests American journalist 'over wine purchase'
The Guardian, 02/03/2009
Iran Says American Journalist Will Be Released
The New York Times, 06/03/2009
Farzad Kamangar: New risks and uncertainties
Education International, 09/03/2009
Iran: Illegal Detention of Iranian-American Journalist
Human Rights Watch, 13/03/2009
Call to prosecute officials after Iranian blogger dies in prison
The Guardian, 20/03/2009
Iraq
Iraq: Higher education's uncertain future
University World News, 01/03/2009
Sweden urges Europe to take more Iraqi refugees
Reuters, 05/03/2009
Ireland
Ireland: Victory for academic freedom
University World News, 08/03/2009
Israel / Palestine
Israel arrests Hamas political leaders
Associated Press, 19/03/2009
Kenya
Outrage at Kenya assassinations
BBC News, 06/03/2009
Protests, riots shake Kenyan capital
Reuters, 10/03/2009
Kenya: Riot after murder of former student leaders
University World News, 22/03/2009
Korea, South
Korean teacher leader on hunger strike
Education International, 10/03/2009
Malaysia
Malaysia: Six people charged with "insulting" royalty online
IFEX, 16/03/2009
Somalia
In Somalia, an Exodus of the Educated
Washington Post, 16/03/2009
South Africa
Hypocrisy of these latter-day defenders of academic freedom
Business Day, 19/03/2009
Sudan
Sudan: President's arrest warrant may affect plans
University World News, 22/03/2009
Thailand
Police arrest Thai website editor
BBC News, 06/03/2009
Warrant issued for Thai academic who fled to London
Reuters, 25/03/2009
United Kingdom
UK: Role of professors mired in confusion
University World News, 08/03/2009
Is saying what you think dead?
The Guardian, 10/03/2009
Free universities are a beacon for a free society
The Guardian, 10/03/2009
Oxbridge universities fail to enrol ethnic minority students
The Guardian, 12/03/2009
Research freedom is part of the job
Times Higher Education, 12/03/2009
Petition calls for sacking of lecturer named on leaked BNP members' list
Times Higher Education, 13/03/2009
Awkward truths get short shrift
Times Higher Education , 26/03/2009
Union fears for freedom as governance talks halt
Times Higher Education, 26/03/2009
Professor suspended over claims he incited G20 violence
The Guardian, 27/03/2009
Foreign donors threaten academic freedom at UK universities
The Telegraph, 28/03/2009
Hundreds of colleges refused permission to take overseas students
The Guardian, 31/03/2009
UK faces continental threat
Times Higher Education, 31/03/2009
United States of America
Academic Freedom, Christian Context
Inside Higher Education, 02/03/2009
U.S. teachers reject academic boycott of Israel
JTA News, 12/03/2009
U.S. Is Urged to Lift Ban on Foreign Scholars
The New York Times, 17/03/2009
Trying tenure
The Chronicle Online, 19/03/2009
'Torture Memos' vs. Academic Freedom
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 20/03/2009
Ward Churchill Takes Witness Stand to Deny Academic Misconduct
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 23/03/2009
Fired Colorado Professor Defends 9/11 Remarks
New York Times, 23/03/2009
So Many Students, So Little Time
Inside Higher Education, 24/03/2009
John Hope Franklin, Black Historian, Dies at 94
The New York Times, 25/03/2009
Defeat and Some Success for Texas Evolution Foes
The New York Times, 26/03/2009
Banned in Boston
Inside Higher Education, 30/03/2009
Various Countries
Leaders highlight universities' role in downturn
University World News, 29/03/2009
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Teachers Fail to Return to Work
AllAfrica News, 03/03/2009
The Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR) is a membership-based, non-governmental organisation which facilitates international collaboration between organisations active in issues of academic freedom and educational rights, and committed to promoting an understanding of, and respect for, the values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For more information about NEAR, please visit our website at www.nearinternational.org
For further information please contact:-
Roisin Joyce
Deputy Director
roisin.joyce@nearinternational.org