Latest News

Recent news from the Society

Academic Freedom | Letter on the University of Bern's Cancellation of Amnesty International Event

The Academic Freedom Committee of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) and of the Società per gli Studi sul Medio Oriente (SeSaMO) have written to the University of Bern to express grave concern about the cancellation of a public...

Academic Freedom | Letter Regarding the Ongoing Imprisonment of Bahraini Academic Dr Abduljalil al-Singace

BRISMES CAF expresses grave concern about the ongoing imprisonment of Bahraini academic Dr Abduljalil al-Singace and the violations of his academic freedom, human rights and physical well-being.

Ilan Pappé Receives Award for Services to Middle Eastern Studies

BRISMES is delighted and proud to award the 2024 Award for Services to Middle Eastern Studies to Professor Ilan Pappé.

Submissions Invited for 2025 BRISMES Conference Student Paper Prize

We are delighted to announce that submissions are open for this annual prize. If you are a student member of BRISMES and registered to present a paper at the conference, please do consider submitting your paper for the BRISMES Conference Student Paper...

Statement from the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies: On Escalating Regional Violence in the Middle East

The British Society for Middle Eastern Studies expresses its deep alarm at Israel’s recent military aggression against Iran, which threatens to unravel ongoing diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States regarding Iran’s nuclear programme....

BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom Statement on Academic Boycotts

In this statement, the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom explains its position that, contrary to common assumptions, academic boycotts can be consistent with—and even necessary for—upholding academic freedom and fundamental human rights, particularly...

BRISMES CAF Response to the HEPI Report on Student Encampments and Palestine Solidarity

The Committee on Academic Freedom of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) welcomes the publication of HEPI Report 185. We acknowledge its valuable documentation of the 2024 student encampments protesting UK universities’ complicity...

Academic Freedom | Letter to UK Government about Alaa Abd El-Fattah

The BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom demands that the Prime Minister’s Office immediately intervene and lobby the Egyptian government for the immediate and unconditional release of British-Egyptian citizen Alaa Abd El-Fattah.