The Irish section of Scholars At Risk held a one-day symposium at Maynooth University on March 13th 2025. The theme of the symposium – academic solidarity – could not be more timely given the ongoing scholasticide we are witnessing in Gaza and the increasing crack-down on protest we see both on and off campuses in Europe and the United States.
Opening the symposium on behalf of SAR (Ireland) Dr Laurence Davis set the scene with his remarks on ‘Academic Freedom and Solidarity in Global Scoundrel Times,’ Introduction to 2025 Maynooth University Symposium on Academic Solidarity in which he reminded us that academic freedom is not a purely negative freedom but comes with responsibilities that include a positive commitment to create and protect the conditions that enable academic freedom to flourish. Further opening remarks were provided by Dr Gemma Irvine, Vice-President for Equality and Diversity at Maynooth University, who detailed the multiple initiatives underway at MU that promote excellence in exile.
A conversation between Dr Salem Gharbia of the Department of Environmental Science at ATU and Dr David Landy, Department of Sociology, TCD, on the topic of Solidarity with Academics and Students in Palestine provided the context for the morning’s first session and prompted lively discussion. The participants spoke passionately about the need for concrete action to support Palestinian scholars and students, including through participation in the BDS movement, as called for by Palestinian scholars. The discussion also provided the context for SAR Ireland to express grave concern at the recent endorsement by the Irish government of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which in effect equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism and has led to “University staff and students [being] subjected to unreasonable investigations and disciplinary proceedings based on this re-definition, and harmed by false allegations of antisemitism,” according to a report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education.
The Reshaping of Higher Education in Afghanistan Today was the subject of Dr Abdul Aziz Mohibbi’s contribution. Dr Mohibbi, who currently holds the position of IIE-SRF fellow, jointly hosted by Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin, spoke eloquently about the dire state of education in his native Afghanistan, where girls are excluded from education on completion of primary school and entry to third level education has all but collapsed following the re-taking of control by the Taliban in 2021. Dr Mohibbi entreated us to bring pressure to bear on our elected representatives to raise this issue at appropriate international fora.
The afternoon session on academic freedom heard expert presentations from Frank Geary and Denise Roche, both of SAR Europe, based at Maynooth University. Frank provided an update on the work of SAR in this area whereas Denise discussed the growing threats to academic freedom in the global context, as highlighted in SAR’s Free to Think Report 2024. This report documented increased attacks on higher education and deteriorating conditions for academic freedom. Denise’s presentation reminded us that academic freedom is a crucial part of freedom of expression and should be viewed as an “autonomous human right grounded in several provisions of international law,” per the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education.
At a time of significant global strife and increasing challenges to the principles espoused by SAR, the symposium provided an opportunity to take stock and discuss ways to collaborate on fostering the academic solidarity that is so necessary in these times. SAR (Ireland) is grateful to Maynooth University for hosting the symposium and expresses particular gratitude to Dr Chandana Mathur for organising it.
- A powerful and deeply moving conversation on solidarity with academics and students in Palestine took place between Dr Salem Gharbia (Environmental Science, ATU) and Dr David Landy (Sociology, TCD), chaired by Dr Chandana Mathur (Anthropology, MU).
Photo kindly provided by Prof Colin Harvey | Director, Human Rights Centre, QUB