NEAR Newsletter May 2011
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 (May 2011). Any comments and suggestions about the content and layout of the newsletter will be gratefully received at roisin.joyce@nearinternational.org.
Academic Freedom in the Media *By country, taken from the NEAR website
Afghanistan
Suicide Blast Kills 6 Medical Students in Major Afghan Hospital
Voice of America, 21/05/2011
Algeria
20 hurt in student clashes in Algiers
AFP, 02/05/2011
ALGERIA: Police beat up protesting medical students
University World News, 22/05/2011
Australia
Senator calls for scholar's head over expert testimony
The Times Higher Education, 19/05/2011
AUSTRALIA: Removing barriers to women researchers
University World News, 22/05/2011
Protection of Intellectual Freedom a Landmark for Uni Staff
National Tertiary Education Union , 26/05/2011
New bill will protect academic freedom
The Sydney Morning Herald, 27/05/2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan: Government Stifling Critics
Human Rights Watch, 04/05/2011
Bahrain
BAHRAIN: Students required to sign pledge of allegiance to government
Los Angeles Times, 16/05/2011
BAHRAIN: University reopens amid tight security
University World News, 22/05/2011
Iranian scientist tortured in Bahrain
Press TV, 25/05/2011
Belarus
EHU supports those recently convicted
European Humanities University, 20/05/2011
BELARUS: EHU student and lecturer spared jail
University World News, 22/05/2011
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso students demand striking teachers return
AFP, 21/05/2011
China
CHINA: Ex-premier criticises higher education reform
University World News, 01/05/2011
In China, Political Chill Begins to Reach Universities
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 03/05/2011
CHINA: Ministry issues list excluding new college
University World News, 15/05/2011
Chinese Student Takes Aim, Literally, at Internet Regulator
The New York Times, 19/05/2011
News Analysis: Internet Censorship and the Role of University Presidents in China
The chronicle of Higher Education, 24/05/2011
China: Mongolian Students Protest Handling of Death
The New York Times, 26/05/2011
CHINA: Mongol students protest shepherd's death
University World News, 29/05/2011
CHINA: Setback for reforms at new university
University World News, 29/05/2011
CHINA: Access to overseas research disrupted
University World News, 29/05/2011
Mongolian Students Locked In
Radio Free Asia, 31/05/2011
Congo
CONGO: Rebels attack university minister
University World News, 15/05/2011
Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
COTE D'IVOIRE: Campuses cleared of militia
University World News, 08/05/2011
Egypt
EGYPT: Insecurity haunts universities ahead of exams
University World News, 15/05/2011
Mass comm students continue sit-in after 9 expelled
Daily News Egypt, 20/05/2011
Honduras
HONDURAS: Students square up to the military
University World News, 01/05/2011
India
INDIA: Academic dissent stifled in Kashmir
University World News, 01/05/2011
Iran
Student Activist and His Family Harassed and Threatened for a Full Year Before Arrest
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 04/05/2011
Iranian Islamic Theologian Summoned To Court
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 04/05/2011
Jailed Iranian Student Calls For Improved Conditions
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 05/05/2011
IRAN: Curricula aligned with 'Islamic principles'
University World News, 15/05/2011
Imprisoned Student Activist’s Mother: “I Don’t Know Why They Are Keeping Him”
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 18/05/2011
IRAN: Universities under siege
University World News, 22/05/2011
Government Attacks Baha’i Online University, Detains 30 Instructors
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 23/05/2011
Baha'is Deplore Arrests Of Academics In Iran
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 24/05/2011
Detained Iranian Student Activist 'Prevented From Meeting Mother'
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 26/05/2011
IRAN: University to continue despite raids, arrests
University World News, 29/05/2011
Iraq
Academics Become Victims of Escalating Violence in Iraq
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 16/05/2011
Iraq's North Offers Educational Oasis
The Wall Street Journal, 17/05/2011
Israel / Palestine
Why has University of Haifa banned on-campus political activity?
Haaretz, 17/05/2011
Muslim leader detained in Israel
The Witness, 19/05/2011
PALESTINE: Fleeing students struggle with paperwork
University World News, 22/05/2011
Italy
Scientists face trial over earthquake deaths
Nature, 26/05/2011
Libya
LIBYA: Nuclear research 'not up to scratch'
University World News, 01/05/2011
Chaos at Home Stalls Tuition Aid for Libyan Students in U.S.
The New York Times, 11/05/2011
Libya: Bangor University students in Gaddafi protest
BBC, 13/05/2011
Malawi
Mutharika appoints commission to end university stand-off
The Maravi Post, 22/05/2011
Do it! Court greenlights academic freedom 100 days event in Zomba
The Maravi Post, 26/05/2011
Mauritania
MAURITANIA: University closed amid ethnic conflict
University World News, 01/05/2011
Pakistan
PAKISTAN: Abbottabad students fear Bin Laden backlash
University World News, 04/05/2011
PAKISTAN: Devolution jeopardises university research
University World News, 08/05/2011
PAKISTAN: Local students fear Bin Laden backlash
University World News, 08/05/2011
PAKISTAN: Taliban on campuses, say arrested students
University World News, 22/05/2011
Saudi Arabia
SAUDI ARABIA: King opens women's university
University World News, 22/05/2011
Saudi Arabia opens the world's largest university for women …
The Guardian, 27/05/2011
South Korea
Elite South Korean University Rattled by Suicides
The New York Times, 22/05/2011
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka students fight military training scheme
BBC, 19/05/2011
SRI LANKA: No dons return after mass resignation
University World News, 22/05/2011
SRI LANKA: Court to rule on student military training
University World News, 29/05/2011
Swaziland
President of Swaziland NUS held over protest
The Guardian, 26/05/2011
Syria
Students in Syria face police crackdown
AlJazeera, 12/05/2011
Syrian student tells of torture ordeal in mass stadium detention
Amnesty International, 24/05/2011
Thailand
THAILAND: Academic charged in political case
University World News, 15/05/2011
Togo
Togo orders university closed over student riots
Associated Press, 27/05/2011
Turkey
Ten students detained in YÖK protest in Istanbul
Hurriyet, 27/05/2011
United Kingdom
Row after university suspends lecturer who criticised way student was treated
The Guardian, 04/05/2011
Testing academic freedom
Index on Censorship, 09/05/2011
Rod Thornton's suspension is a serious attack on academic freedom
The Guardian, 11/05/2011
Freedom of information laws are used to harass scientists, says Nobel laureate
The Guardian, 25/05/2011
Academics lose confidence in government's lack of direction
The Guardian, 29/05/2011
Asylum seekers barred from university
The Guardian, 31/05/2011
United States of America
NYU refuses to condemn detainment of UAE activists
Washington Square News, 03/05/2011
Billionaire's role in hiring decisions at Florida State University raises questions
St. Petersburg Times, 10/05/2011
Tony Kushner's honour restored by university board's unanimous vote
The Guardian, 10/05/2011
After the Review
Inside Higher Education, 11/05/2011
Fundamental Disagreements
Inside Higher Education, 12/05/2011
Missing physicist may have been jailed in Iran
Nature, 16/05/2011
Sex, the Koch Brothers and Academic Freedom
The New York Times, 16/05/2011
A gift too far? Questions are asked about donor's terms
The Times Higher Education, 19/05/2011
US-CANADA: Dismay at professorship for Larry Thompson
University World News, 22/05/2011
US: Cuba research ban could reach highest court
University World News, 22/05/2011
Student Group That Opposes ‘Multiculturalism’ Is Accused of Ties to Extremists
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 23/05/2011
U. of Virginia Agrees to Release Climate Researcher’s E-Mails
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 25/05/2011
Duke's China Plan Sparks Doubts on Campus
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 25/05/2011
UC-San Diego Dean Violated Academic Freedom by Suppressing Paper, Faculty Allege
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 26/05/2011
Intervention From On High
Inside Higher Education, 26/05/2011
In Petition, NYU Faculty Urge Their Institution to Condemn Arrests in Emirates
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 30/05/2011
Uzbekistan
Uzbek Students From Kyrgyzstan Having Problems In Russia
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 12/05/2011
Various Countries
MIDDLE EAST: Rights, freedom and offshore academics
University World News, 01/05/2011
Academic freedom and 'dangerous ideas'
AlJazeera, 21/05/2011
AFRICA: Terrorist threat hampers research in Sahel
University World News, 29/05/2011
Yemen
Troops kill two students south of Yemeni capital
AFP, 07/05/2011
Dozens Die in Yemen Protests
The Wall Street Journal, 31/05/2011
Saleh: Suppressing opponents from within
AlJazeera, 31/05/2011
Zimbabwe
ZIMBABWE: Students under financial, political pressure
University World News, 08/05/2011
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