Image: Thierry Roge, European Union 2019
Christian Ehler says bloc’s help for at-risk scholars in general “clearly” must expand
A leading MEP has backed calls from academics and humanitarian groups for the EU to protect scholars in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country last month.
Christian Ehler (pictured), the research spokesperson for the European People’s Party—the largest political group in the European Parliament—said on 3 September that Afghan academics “need to be able to find a safe haven to continue their scholarly work at European academic institutions”.
He echoed academic groups in calling on European national governments and the European Commission “to do what they can to make funds available to support emergency placements”.
“Under the Taliban’s regime, academic freedom is likely to disappear and these scientists will not be able to continue their scholarly work in Afghanistan,” Ehler said.
Students fear for safety
Ehler’s appeal came after Taliban fighters seized control of the country’s capital, Kabul, on 15 August and following the United States’ full withdrawal of its troops on 31 August.
University students from Afghanistan previously told Research Professional News they fear for their safety under the Taliban and said they were “direct targets” of the extremist group.
On 22 August, Scholars at Risk—an international network of over 500 higher education institutions in 40 countries that aims to protect academics under threat—appealed to European governments and the EU institutions to take action.
Endorsed by dozens of European academic organisations, the appeal asked for continued evacuation flights, increased resettlement quotas, expedited resettlement pathways and waivers of return requirements.
It also called for the creation of a dedicated EU fellowship scheme for researchers at risk, which has long been sought by various European academic groups.
Ehler backed this aspect of the appeal too, saying the EU “clearly has to work on expanding its capacity to offer a safe haven to scientists at risk of any national government oppression”.
He suggested to the news site Politico that the EU could create a “pilot programme for academics at risk” that would combine placements and financing. He said this would entail a “visa agreement with member states” for emergencies, complaining that current processes can take “months, sometimes years”.