On December 9, 2021 Scholars at Risk held “Free to Think 2021” a virtual symposium marking the release of SAR’s Free to Think 2021 report analyzing attacks on higher education communities around the world. At the conclusion of the symposium, SAR presented the 2021 Courage to Think Award which recognizes individuals, groups, or institutions that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom.
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Event Held on Thursday, December 9, 2021
Event Held on Thursday, December 9, 2021
Session 1: Protesting military rule in Myanmar
Session 1: Protesting military rule in Myanmar
In Myanmar, Scholars at Risk reported an intense and prolonged crackdown on the higher education community in connection with a military coup. Military and police forces frequently used violent force, detentions, and prosecutions to restrict and retaliate against students and scholars protesting the coup. Higher education campuses were raided and occupied by military forces in an effort to quash dissent and establish military control over those institutions. Thousands of academics and other higher education personnel were suspended from their positions for protesting the coup.
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Session 2: Responding to the crisis in Afghanistan
Session 2: Responding to the crisis in Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, Scholars at Risk reported targeted killings of scholars and violent attacks against higher education institutions that left scores dead and injured. The withdrawal of United States and coalition military troops and the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan intensified insecurity in the country and left students, scholars, and their institutions in grave danger of physical harm and deprivation of their rights to education and academic freedom.
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Session 3: Protecting expression in Belarus
Session 3: Protecting expression in Belarus
In Belarus, Scholars at Risk reported the use of excessive force and arrests of students and scholars during national demonstrations over the disputed results of the 2020 presidential election. State authorities also arrested student leaders and faculty in targeted raids. Infringing on university autonomy, the government of Alexander Lukashenko replaced rectors and other administrative staff at higher education institutions based on political considerations and called on universities to expel students and faculty who participated in or supported the protests.
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Session 4: Legislative attacks on academic freedom in the United States
Session 4: Legislative attacks on academic freedom in the United States
In the United States (US), Scholars at Risk reported targeted harassment and disruption of online university events; pressures on individual scholars from political actors outside universities and from universities themselves; political and legislative attacks that seek to ban the teaching of particular scholarly doctrines; and travel restrictions, investigations, and prosecutions that undermine academic freedom for US-based and international scholars and students.
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Free to Think 2021 report launch & Courage to Think Award presentation
Free to Think 2021 report launch & Courage to Think Award presentation
Scholars at Risk will formally launch Free to Think 2021, the annual report of SAR’s academic freedom monitoring project. The report documents 332 attacks on higher education communities in 65 countries and territories. The launch of the report will be followed by the presentation of the 2021 SAR Courage to Think Award which recognizes individuals, groups, or institutions that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom, whether through professional work, private or community service, or by facing personal risk.
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