Scholars at Risk

10/08/2026

Over the past several months, some European Humanities University (EHU), Lithuania, students have reported that they and their Belarus-based families have been subjected to searches, threats, detentions, and criminal charges by Belarusian authorities. These deeply worrisome reports of retaliatory action come following a decision by the Supreme Court of Belarus labeling EHU an purported "extremist" organization and banning its activities and symbols.

This crackdown actively restricts independent research, teaching, publication, and critical dialogue, and threatens the fundamental rights to free expression and association essential to a functioning higher education system.

SAR calls on Belarusian authorities to immediately revoke the "extremist" designation for EHU and to cease all intimidation, legal prosecution, detentions, and harassment against students and their families. Read more: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/2026/10/sar-calls-on-belarusian-authorities-to-cease-targeting-ehu-students-and-families/

On August 25, 2026, students from the European Humanities University (EHU), Lithuania, reported, upon their return home to Belarus, that they were subject to searches, threats, intimidation…

10/08/2026

Early registration and hotel block closes this Sunday, October 11th!

Join SAR in Chicago on Nov. 12-14 for the US General Assembly to explore pressures on academic freedom and practical ways the community can protect it.

On Thursday evening, join us for a public conversation, “Academic Freedom in the Era of Trump: The US and Beyond,” featuring SAR Executive Director Rob Quinn with University of Chicago professors Geoffrey Stone and Tom Ginsburg.

Register, book your hotel, and explore other sessions via the link in the comments ⬇️

10/07/2026

Interested in supporting an at-risk scholar? Consider hosting this scholar of at your institution! https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/actions/host-a-scholar/

10/06/2026

UK intelligence agency MI5’s rare public security “espionage alert” for UK academia highlights growing threats of foreign state interference in higher education. From personal harassment and censorship to visa denials, researchers studying critical topics face systemic pressure. When academic institutions fail to address these risks, both research security and fundamental academic freedom are compromised: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy7zrljp527o

shows that protecting global research collaboration requires robust funding transparency and proactive protection for researchers facing state pressure. Read more: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/free-to-think-2026/

Free to Think 2026 is the 12th installment of an annual report by SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, and analyzes 382 attacks on higher education communities around the world.

10/06/2026

Early registration for the SAR US General Assembly closes October 11th!

Join the conversation in Chicago, November 12–14, and connect with the SAR community of higher education leaders, scholars, policy experts, professional associations, and partners across sectors, working to support threatned scholars and defend academic freedom.

Explore the program and register today: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/event/2026-u-s-general-assembly-scholars-at-risk/

10/05/2026

SAR invites higher education scholars, staff, and administrators to an interactive workshop on protecting oneself against threats to academic freedom and personal safety amidst escalating pressure on higher education communities in the United States.

Participants will learn how to improve their digital safety, respond to censorship attempts, understand their legal rights, navigate politically charged topics in the classroom, and more. The workshop will take place on November 12, 2026 at the University of Chicago preceding SAR's US General Assembly.

Learn more and register here by October 11 for early bird rates: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/event/2026-u-s-general-assembly-scholars-at-risk/

10/02/2026

Threats to were particularly prominent in . Despite student protests beginning peacefully, police responded with violence, using tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, water cannons, or live am******on in an effort to disperse student demonstrators in , , and , furthering the likelihood of violence overall during protests.

The severity and frequency of incidents related to student expression underscores the vulnerability of student expression around the world. Peaceful student expression is an important aspect of campus discourse and debate. SAR urges state and higher education leaders to respond appropriately and proportionately to , and ensure the safety of their students first and foremost.

Learn more about student protests documented in : https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/free-to-think-2026/

10/02/2026

"As in other countries such as India, Serbia, or Georgia, where the ruling party sees higher education as a threat to be controlled, government actors in the United States are seeking to capture the sector." Nate Schenkkan, SAR Research and Learning Director, draws on SAR’s global academic freedom monitoring to offer leaders lessons for combating current threats in the US.

Academic freedom is falling fast in the United States, but there are lessons from other countries and other parts of civil society. Higher education i...

10/01/2026

On September 25, shortly after a court in rejected his appeal to annul the charges of high treason, PhD student Bahruz Samadov cut his arm with a sharp object, saying “When words run out, you have to speak with blood.” Azerbaijani courts have rejected multiple such appeals by Bahruz’s legal team. This news is deeply disturbing.

Bahruz is being accused of “high treason” in apparent retaliation for his criticisms of the Azerbaijani military. Despite the state’s lack of evidence for such charges, Bahruz faces 15 years in prison as well as serious health and safety risks. No one should face such punishment for exercising . SAR urges the international community to condemn the charges and work to now: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/actions/bahruz-samadov-azerbaijan/

Read more: https://oc-media.org/oc-media-contributor-bahruz-samadov-self-harms-during-supreme-court-hearing/

Bahruz Samadov cut his right arm several times during a break in the hearing.

09/30/2026

Russian strikes on Ukrainian higher education institutions are not new. recorded damage to university buildings on at least 17 separate occasions, aligning with Ukraine's “severely restricted” rating in the . Such violent attacks strike at the heart of the freedom necessary for the university space to function, and send a chill through the entire society. Read more: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/free-to-think-2026/