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To the attention of the International Academic Community,
Since yesterday an international women's academic delegation group is
being withheld from crossing to Northern Syria, from the Semalka border
between Iraq and Syria, to explore the humanitarian conditions,
situation of women and future possibilities of academic collaboration
and research in the region.
Although until recently this has not been the case, the delegation was
informed that from now on only journalists and NGO members were allowed
to cross.This means an impediment to academic freedom constraining the
academics whose responsibility is to safeguard democratic values, social
justice, gender equality and peace especially at times of turmoil under
authoritarian regimes.
Below you can find the call for solidarity written by the delegation.
They are asking international academics to contact the chairman of
Selmanka border point to show their solidarity and ask for the
authorization to continue their academic work in Northern Syria.
As it is a delicate situation, due to the political circumstances and
the relationship between Northern Syria and the Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) of Iraq, the delegation especially asks the mails to be
sent to keep a strictly academic tone in order not to aggravate the
tension. With the support of the international academics they are hoping
to resolve the situation soon enough avoiding the need for further steps
to be taken.
For that if you will be contacting the chairman of the border or
thinking of spreading the information in your academic networks please
keep that in mind.(contacts at the end of the call)
In solidarity
CALL FOR SOLIDARITY AND PROTEST AT SEMALKA BORDER OFFICE
We are an academic women's delegation of five women that intents to
travel to Northern Syria in order to explore the situation of women,
humanitarian conditions and new forms of academic structures. We want to
build contacts for future research in the region. We consider research
to have a strong ethical and societal responsibility. Joint research and
academic exchange could become part of the process to transform society
towards deep democracy, social justice, gender equality and a peaceful
joint life. We are a diverse group of a lecturer in transculturality and
international relations (Dr. Mechthild Exo, Social Work Department of
University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer), a student of philosophy and
comparative political thought (starting Master at SOAS University of
London), a medical and humanitarian expert (retired medical doctor), an
expert of the Kurdish region of Northern Syria, and an interpreter.
The application for border crossing had been submitted with a letter by
the vice-president of University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer. In the
week before we traveled to Iraq we provided the border office with all
requested documents, mainly proofing our ID and the university
affiliation. When we requested crossing to Syria today, the border
office refused with the explanation that only NGOs and journalists are
receiving permission.
We ask you to protest the denying of permission to this academic women's
delegation and the hindrance to enter Northern Syria. For us this
decision must be considered as a harm to the academic freedom. We
particularly ask all academic and non-academic women to be at our side
and build up pressure to the border office to enable our women's
delegation to meet and discuss with women of the new founded university
in Quamislo.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mechthild Exo
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Please contact to the Semalka border office and Dr. Hamid Derbendi:
hamid [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
00964 750 390 8589
00964 750 445 2794 (Whatsapp)
and
[log in to unmask]
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