SAR’s Courage to Think Award 2021 to Ahmadreza Djalali
In 2011 the organization Scholars at Risk (SAR) celebrated its 10th anniversery by setting up The Courage to Think Award, which “recognizes individuals, groups, or institutions that have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom, whether through their professional work, private or community service, or by facing personal risk.”
This year’s recipient of the award is Ahmadreza Djalali, KI alumnus, researcher in disaster medicine and Swedish citizen. This appointment by SAR sends a strong and clear signal to the world that we must act even more to put pressure on Iran.
As you all well know, Ahmadreza Djalali has spent years incarcerated in Iran, after being arrested in April 2016, after a closed trial and with a death sentence hanging over him. It is obvious that his sentence is an abuse to everything close to basic human rights, justice, academic freedom, freedom of expression, and that he has been denied proper access to legal counsel during the whole process.
During his time in prison, his health has rapidly deteriorated. He has been repeatedly denied access to essential medical care, despite evidence that he is suffering from very serious health issues.
Please join SAR’s free digital seminar “Free to Think 2021” on December 9th, where Ahmadreza Djalali’s wife Vida Mehrannia will be accepting the award on his behalf. At the seminar Free to Think 2021 will be released, a report tracing attacks on higher education communities around the world.
Information and registration for the event are available here.
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