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scholarsatrisk.bsky.social
Scholars at Risk
@scholarsatrisk.bsky.social
Protecting the right to think, question, and share ideas. Stay connected: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/email-sign-up/

Website: scholarsatrisk.org
As a result of cuts to USAID, many in #Afghanistan, #SouthAfrica, #Egypt, and more lost access to #highered and life-saving research programs—underscoring the serious global consequences of the #US’ defunding of HE programs. #Free2Think2025 reports:
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Known for years as a global leader in #highered and research, the #US saw #academicfreedom levels and university autonomy decline significantly in #Free2Think2025 —posing dire risks to the shrinking space for academic freedom worldwide. #AcademicFreedomIndex
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
November 17, 2025 at 8:18 PM
University autonomy faced grave threats in #Free2Think2025 in authoritarian and democratic states. In both contexts, leaders used their regulatory power to censor curricula, revoke funding, and implement laws that restrict #academicfreedom. www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
November 12, 2025 at 8:32 PM
In #Azerbaijan, the #wrongfulimprisonments of high profile academics like #BahruzSamadov and #IgbalAbilov reflects the shrinking space for academic and cultural expression as well as research critical of the govt. #Free2Think2025 reports more:
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
November 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Scholars at Risk was delighted to present on #education and the right to #academicfreedom at the 2025 #SocialForum of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva this week. Education should be a tool of empowerment, not indoctrination. Event info: ow.ly/HA7Q50Xla8Q
October 31, 2025 at 6:50 PM
In #Free2Think2025, female students in #Iran saw escalating surveillance, physical violence, and arrests for failing to comply with mandatory hijab laws, once again resulting in a “completely restricted” rating from the #AcademicFreedomIndex.
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 27, 2025 at 7:41 PM
This #UNDay, SAR affirms the importance of #academicfreedom. Protecting the right for scholars & students to think, write, and share ideas freely will require concrete legal action from intergovernmental bodies and the #humanrights community. Read how:
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 24, 2025 at 7:18 PM
State leaders must take action: not only do #wrongfulimprisonments and punitive legal measures hurt those directly impacted, they also create chilling effects across #highered — stifling innovation, discussion, and debate.
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 21, 2025 at 6:17 PM
On the anniversary of Dr. Ahmedreza Djalali’s wrongful conviction in #Iran in 2017, #Free2Think2025 urges Swedish authorities to #FreeDjalali now; not only has Dr. Djalali been convicted w/o evidence, his life is at dire risk now because of it.
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 21, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Despite the deadly repression of student protesters from July-August 2024, #Bangladesh saw a slight improvement in the #AcademicFreedomIndex, esp regarding campus integrity—the extent to which campuses are free from surveillance and security infringements.
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 17, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The state of #studentexpression in #Serbia drew particular concern in #Free2Think2025 —the national, student-led movement against govt corruption has been met with excessive police force and govt efforts to undermine univerisites as spaces for dissent:
www.rferl.org/a/serbia-stu...
October 15, 2025 at 7:28 PM
#Studentexpression doesn’t just matter on college campuses. As #Free2Think2025 shows, they tap into broader societal discourse and can spark national movements and conversation. Protecting #studentexpression is thus integral to public discourse broadly.
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Thank you to those who attended SAR’s 25th anniversary year celebration! We are grateful for those who joined us in reaching for “a world where scholars are safe, universities are free, and where everyone enjoys the freedom to think, share, and question ideas freely and safely.”
October 10, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Today kicks off the US Mid-Atlantic Conference at @nyuniversity! We are excited to welcome the SAR network, partners, and advocates to examine escalating threats to #academicfreedom in the #US and beyond. For a post-event recap in SAR’s monthly newsletter: scholarsatrisk.org/stay-connected
October 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
From the Taliban’s targeted attacks on #Afghan scholars who objected to educational policies to police crackdowns on anti-gov’t student protesters in #Bangladesh, violent attacks on #highered retaliated against those who voiced dissent against the gov’t. www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Data from the #AcademicFreedomIndex reveals declining levels of #academicfreedom across authoritarian and democratic contexts. Over the past decade, in fact, global academic freedom levels have shrunk at an accelerating pace. Read why in #Free2Think2025:
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 6, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The #highered community faced a wide range of attacks in #Free2Think2025. These attacks are more than just individual stories—together they create a chilling effect that impedes #academicfreedom and the production of knowledge at universities. Learn more:
www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
In addition to documenting attacks on #highered, #Free2Think2025 provides key recommendations for how policymakers, advocates, and scholars can protect at-risk scholars and why global solidarity is key to promoting #academicfreedom. Learn more: www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM
1 year, 49 countries, 395 attacks on #highered communities. SAR’s #Free2Think2025 report demonstrates the global, longstanding threats and unprecedented pressures the academic sector faced in 2025. See how attacks on #highered impacted your country: www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/fr...
October 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM