Academic Freedom in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

Academic freedom remains under significant pressure across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where political constraints, conflict, and institutional limitations continue to shape the production and circulation of knowledge. Scholars, students, and universities in the region often navigate complex environments marked by censorship, surveillance, and restrictions on research, teaching, and expression. This webinar will examine the current state of academic freedom in MENA, highlighting both structural challenges and lived experiences. It will explore how factors such as authoritarian governance, regional instability, and global political dynamics impact higher education systems and scholarly communities. Particular attention will be given to the experiences of at-risk scholars, the role of international academic networks, and the implications of exile and displacement. Bringing together diverse perspectives, this discussion aims to foster critical dialogue on how academic freedom can be protected and strengthened in the region, and what responsibilities global academic communities share in supporting scholars facing repression.