CARA Executive Secretary Cycling for Refugee Academics
London. On the first of June, 2008, John Akker, Executive Secretary of CARA – Council for Assisting Refugee Academics – will be cycling 53 miles from Cambridge to London, to raise funds and awareness in support of refugee academics.
CARA is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and on this account is organising several events.
John Akker’s message:
Sadly
in the modern world academics are being increasingly targeted because
of their teaching and research. Recently I received a copy of a letter
sent to an academic in Iraq. It was from one of the religious orders.
It said “you are teaching college students foreign curricula and
incorporate the concepts of western thought in the minds of young
Muslims. You are therefore sentenced to death just like other
professors of your type.” He was teaching 19th century English
literature.
Money donated will help him and the 180 other refugee academics we are supporting from over 30 countries that have fled from torture, imprisonment and campaigns of intimidation.
John Akker’s fundraising page can be accessed at www.justgiving.com/johnakker.
CARA received the prestigious Human Rights Award 2007 from the University of Graz (http://www.uni-graz.at/newswww_detail.htm?reference=76607).