News – Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Vorderer Orient

Upcoming Event: Teach-in on the current situation of the universities in Rojava (Northern Syria) and the potentials of solidarity

Teach-in on the current situation of the universities in Rojava (Northern Syria) and the potentials of solidarity Like many of you, we’re following developments in Rojava/Northern and Eastern Syria. To better understand the situation and in response to the call for support and solidarity from faculty and students of the three universities in Rojava, we are organizing a teach-in and information event with representatives of faculty and students from the universities in Rojava on February 11 at 18:00 (CET) via Zoom.

Supporting statement for the film screening at the Düsseldorf Art Academy with internationally renowned artist Ms. Basma al-Sharif.

We are the Committee on Academic Freedom of the German Middle East Studies Association (DAVO) are sending a supporting statement for the film screening at the Düsseldorf Art Academy with internationally renowned artist Ms. Basma al-Sharif. The committee’s mission is to monitor and defend academic freedom in research, study, and teaching on contemporary Near and Middle East as well as North Africa in German-speaking countries and beyond, including institutions in the Near East. Statements are published in their original language

BRISMES and DAVO Committees on Academic Freedom Statement on Israeli Military Attack on Birzeit University Campus

The Academic Freedom Committees of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) and the Germany Middle East Studies Association (DAVO), as bodies committed to protecting and advancing academic freedom and freedom of expression within the Middle East and in relation to the study and teaching of the Middle East, strongly condemn the Israeli military attack on Birzeit University on 6 January 2026. This violent incursion onto a university campus constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental rights and safety

Public statement by the Association of Palestinian and Jewish Academics, the Alliance for Critical Scholarship in Solidarity (KriSol), and DAVO-GfW on the cancellation of the LMU event “The Targeting of the Palestinian Academia.”

The cancellation on November 17, 2025, of the planned lecture “The Targeting of the Palestinian Academia” (November 28, 2025) by the university administration of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) is a serious encroachment on the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of science. This cancellation is not only a setback for academic discourse on Palestinian scholarship in the context of Israel’s gross violations of international law, but also raises fundamental questions about academic freedom, institutional racism, and the university’s self-image as a

Public Statement by DAVO-CAF regarding the possible cancellation of the event “The Targeting of Palestinian Academia” at LMU

Universities have a duty to engage in scientific debate on controversial, sensitive, and politically charged issues. Scientific debates on conflicts or human rights situations must take place precisely when social tensions are high. We are observing with growing concern attempts by political and state actors to influence scientific debates through predefined terms and assessments, to defame researchers, and to criminalize them on this basis. Statements are published in their original language without translation. To view the statement in German, please

Photo Competition DAVO Website 2025

Showcasing Research Through Images Your research could shape the new look of the DAVO website! We are excited to invite all DAVO members to share the visual side of their research in our first Research Photo Competition. The ten winning photos will become banner images across the DAVO website – featured on pages such as Home, About Us, Working Groups, CAF, and DAVO Congress. In addition, the top five entries will each receive a €50 book voucher. Research is not