Endangered Scholars Worldwide: Introduction

Endangered Scholars Worldwide: Introduction IN THE SUMMER 2 0 0 7 ISSUE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH, WE ANNOUNCED OUR intention tofeature a special section in every issue providing names and rele­ vant information about scholars around the world who are in prison or otherwise persecuted for expressing their ideas. We also promised that we would include information about what we are being asked to do on their behalfin the hope that our readers willjoin us in protesting their imprisonment and pleadingfor their release. As we noted, this newfeature returns us to our roots in the University in Exile, where professors and intellectuals who were rescued by the first presi­ dent ofthe New Schoolfrom the horrors ofNazism were given a new home at the New School and where, one year later, in 1934, theyfounded thejournal Social Research. In the first installment of thisfeature we focused on two members of our own extended community: Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh, a Social Research author and former NewSchool colleague, whowas imprisoned in Tehran on May 11 on charges ofspyingfor the United States; and Dr. Berhanu Nega, who received his Ph.D. at the New Schoolfor Social Research, who was charged with treason and wasfacing execution in Ethiopia. We are happy to announce that Dr. Tajbakhshwas released on bailfrom Evin Prison on September 20,just as we go topress, and is home with his wife in Tehran, awaiting the birth of theirfirst child. Dr. Nega has also been releasedfrom prison and is now in the United States. In the first issue we mentioned two other imprisoned scholars who also have since been released: Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, who has now returned to the United States, where she is director ofthe Wilson Center’s Middle East Program, and Dr. Mesfim Woldemariam, who has, along with Dr. Nega, also been released from prison in Ethiopia. Endangered Scholars W orldwide: Introduction v On thefollowing pages we list three more scholars who have been impris­ oned unjustly. We urge you to act on their behalfby sending letters ofprotest to those indicated belowwho have the power to release them. Although we will never know to what extent our petitionsfor these scholars helped, we believe they do have some effect. Draft letters ofprotestfor each scholar may be found on our website . —Arien Mack, Editor vi social research ...