BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom
The BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom was set up to monitor and defend academic freedom in the research, study and teaching of Middle East Studies in the UK and anywhere in the world, including in academic institutions in the Middle East and North Africa.
To learn more about how the committee works, please see the Terms of Reference.
The current Chair of the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom is Lewis Turner (Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Newcastle University).
Latest Statement/Letter
We have written to the European Research Council (ERC) to express our deep concern regarding the complaints levelled against Dr Harry Pettit, and public suggestions by Members of the European Parliament that an ERC grant should be withdrawn on the basis of Dr Pettit’s lawful political beliefs and public expression.
Academic freedom and freedom of expression within the law are essential for the production of academic research and for the maintenance of an open, democratic society. The awarding of research grants must be based solely on academic merit. Political attempts to influence the funding decisions on the basis of a researcher’s lawful personal views must be resisted in the strongest possible terms.
We call upon the ERC to publicly:
- defend the integrity of the academic process through which Dr Pettit’s grant was awarded;
- affirm that no lawful political speech, absent any finding of misconduct or illegality, can constitute grounds for the withdrawal of an ERC grant and
- confirm that Dr Pettit will remain the holder of the ERC grant that he was awarded.
20 March 2026
Previous Statements
Please find here the list of statements published by the Committee on Academic Freedom.
Previous Letters
Please find here the list of public letters published by the Committee on Academic Freedom.
Database of Expertise
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