1000 баксов за месяц: MEF Dispatch: Iran Outraged at Pro-Regime Prof's Demotion

понедельник, 22 декабря 2025 г.

Islamic Republic of Iran Outraged at Pro-Regime Prof's Demotion in Arkansas; Islamism in the West

By Winfield Myers ● Dec 22, 2025

Smart Brevity^® count: 10.5 mins...2734 words

A grassroots campaign led by Iranian-American activists and supported by MEF compelled the University of Arkansas to remove Shirin Saeidi as director of the school's King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies and consider firing her for cause. Saeidi is the third regime-linked professor over the past year who was suspended, retired under pressure, or demoted as a result of MEF's work with Iranian American dissidents.

This issue features two reports on the growing threat of Islamism in the United Kingdom. Potkin Azarmehr writes about a Lancashire town that has emerged as a recurring source of jihadist violence, while Jules Gomes reports on a government redefinition of "Islamophobia" as "anti-Muslim hostility" that has sparked concerns over potential threats to free speech. Joe Adam George says that an Ontario school district is circulating a guide to combating "Islamophobia" produced with a group with alleged Muslim Brotherhood affiliations. We also include the work of David E. Firester, Aaron Shuster, Amine Ayoub, and Nicoletta Kouroushi.

Unlike other think tanks, the Middle East Forum's fellows and writers conduct on-the-ground research across the region, including Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Armenia, Oman, and other sensitive areas. We don't rely on secondhand briefings; we go straight to the sources. Please consider a year-end gift (click here) to help us continue our work.

Islamic Republic of Iran Outraged at Pro-Regime Prof's Demotion in Arkansas

Shirin Saeidi's dean demoted her for allegedly violating university policies, citing her unabashed support for Ayatollah Khamenei and Iran's regime, her misuse of university letterhead to defend a con...

News from the Middle East Forum

The University of Arkansas demotes Shirin Saeidi: A grassroots effort by Iranian-American activists, backed by the Middle East Forum, has forced the University of Arkansas to remove Shirin Saeidi as director of its King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies and to consider firing her for cause.

The university's reaction: Saeidi was demoted over her alignment with Iran's regime and misuse of university resources to defend a war criminal.

Saeidi's dean cited her unabashed support for Ayatollah Khamenei and Iran's regime, her misuse of university letterhead to defend a convicted war criminal, and for posting "inflammatory" social media messages calling for Israel to "be dismantled."

Why it matters: This underscores MEF's influence in curbing Iranian regime propaganda in U.S. academia and the power of advocacy in expelling regime-linked academics, sending a clear message against Tehran's toxic influence on U.S. campuses.

The university is evaluating Saeidi's employment status, while Cambridge University Press investigates allegations of unauthorized use of interview material in her book.
Saeidi is the third regime-linked professor over the past year who was suspended, retired under pressure, or demoted as a result of MEF's work with Iranian American dissidents.

The bottom line: MEF's Gregg Roman: "To the regime's proxies who remain as faculty at America's universities: your days of operating with impunity are numbered. We will continue exposing and dismantling this network until we rid America's campuses of Tehran's toxic influence."

To read the full press release, click here.

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ICYMI: The Middle East in 2026 with Robert Silverman

Robert Silverman on the Middle East in 2026

Despite enduring rivalries among Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, a U.S.-anchored regional alignment is emerging because American leadership remains essential to binding these competing powers together. U.S. Central Command's integration of Israel into regional military coordination is a key structural shift. Postwar Gaza identified is an early test case for a broader civil-military stabilization framework supported by Trump-era diplomacy and an internationally endorsed Gaza plan. Weakening Iranian proxies, expanding regional military cooperation, and growing economic ties—such as Israeli gas exports to Egypt—create grounds for cautious optimism heading into 2026.

Robert Silverman is a former U.S. diplomat with 27 years of experience primarily working in and on the Middle East. He served as political counselor in Israel, economic counselor in Saudi Arabia, deputy chief of mission in Sweden and governance coordinator of Salah al-Din Province of Iraq, among nine overseas assignments. In Washington, he was elected to serve as president of the American Foreign Service Association by its 17,000 members. Silverman currently teaches at Shalem College in Jerusalem in the Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy departments. He edits the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune (www.jstribune.com), a foreign affairs journal. He is also president and co-founder of IJMA, the Inter- Jewish Muslim Alliance (www.ijma-alliance.org). Silverman holds a B.A. and an MPA from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

To watch the full podcast, click here.

Nelson, A Hotbed of Jihadism in Northwest England

Nelson, a former mill town once defined by looms, pubs, and labor militancy, Nelson has emerged as a recurring source of jihadist violence in the United Kingdom. (Shutterstock)

By: Potkin Azarmehr

Nelson, once a mill town in Lancashire, has become a breeding ground for Islamist jihadist violence due to self-imposed segregation and ideological radicalization.

Self-segregation fuels extremism: With a population of just 35,000, Nelson illustrates how even a small English town can become a persistent source of jihadist violence when segregation, ideological radicalization, and official reluctance to confront extremism converge.

This environment enabled individuals like Jihad al-Shamie to embrace extremism, culminating in his attack on Manchester's Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue.

Weak oversight empowers radicals: Lax charity oversight has emboldened extremist Islamist figures to spread their narratives without consequence.

Despite formal warnings, imams in Nelson persist in promoting inflammatory rhetoric against non-Muslims.

Urgent need for action: Reclaiming towns like Nelson will require the state to abandon its reluctance to act—enforcing the law evenly, confronting ideological radicalization directly, and ending the pretense that social cohesion can be achieved without challenging those who actively undermine it.

To read the full article click here.

Islamophobiacs at It Again in U.K.

By: Jules Gomes

The U.K.'s redefinition of "Islamophobia" as "anti-Muslim hostility" has sparked concerns over potential threats to free speech.

Threat to free speech: The new definition risks acting as a de facto blasphemy law, stifling criticism of Islam.

Critics argue it could lead to arrests for legitimate discourse, driven by fear of offending extremists.

Backlash from various groups: Secular, religious, and parliamentary figures warn against adopting expansive terminology that may criminalize factual statements.

The Free Speech Union emphasizes that such a definition could silence necessary debate on extremism.

Calls for balanced policy: Critics demand a fair approach that protects free speech for all religious groups without privileging one over others.

The Network of Sikh Organisations questions why similar definitions for other faiths are absent, highlighting potential biases.

To read the full article, click here.

Ontario Schools Promote Islamist Agenda in Name of 'Equity'

Developed with input from the National Council of Canadian Muslims, the Durham District School Board's internal

By: Joe Adam George

The Durham District School Board, Ontario's third largest, is facing criticism for distributing a guide co-developed with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), reflecting growing Islamist influence in Canada's education system.

Indoctrination over education: The guide, framed around intersectionality and anti-oppression, directs staff to view experiences through "Islamophobia," stifling open discourse on radical Islam.

Critics argue that advocacy groups like the NCCM are using public education to spread propaganda incompatible with a neutral academic environment.

Widespread infiltration in Ontario: Similar initiatives by the NCCM have influenced multiple school boards, embedding ideological narratives under the guise of combating discrimination.

The NCCM has received substantial taxpayer funding, raising concerns about the misuse of public resources for ideological conditioning.

Call for transparency and action: Parents and educators are demanding that the Durham District School Board and other boards ensure educational content remains neutral and transparent, resisting external ideological pressures.

There is a growing call for the government to address this ideological encroachment and safeguard the educational integrity of public schools.

To read the full article, click here.

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Will War Return to Gaza?

Will War Return to Gaza? with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib

By: Marilyn Stern

On a recent MEF Podcast, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, an expert from the Atlantic Council, revealed how Hamas maintains control over Gaza by exploiting critical infrastructure, complicating efforts for peace and stability.

Hamas's strategic exploitation: The terror group uses hospitals and schools as shields, with ministries operating from Shifa, Al-Aqsa, and Nasser hospitals.

These facilities serve as hubs for operations, including torture, economic exploitation, and financial racketeering, making any humanitarian interventions fraught with danger.

Challenges for international peace efforts: The proposed International Stabilization Force struggles with disarmament, as regional politics and reluctance to confront Hamas stall progress.

The inability of Arab and Muslim countries to enforce peace or disarmament highlights a growing gap between international intentions and ground realities.

Path to transformation: Alkhatib emphasizes leveraging local opposition to Hamas, fostering change from within Gaza.

Building on Gazans' resentment towards Hamas's oppressive rule, there is potential to transform public opinion and set the stage for a more stable and independent Gaza.
However, external influences from Turkey and Qatar, and internal divisions, complicate efforts to foster a sustainable Palestinian governance system.

To read the full summary and watch the podcast, click here.

X's Transparency Rules Expose a Synthetic Gaza Disinformation Network

A new location-transparency requirement on X has revealed fake accounts relating to the Gaza war. Shutterstock

By: David E. Firester

X's new location-transparency policy has uncovered misleading accounts falsely claiming to report from Gaza, altering the information landscape around the Gaza conflict.

Exposed misinformation tactics: Accounts that once posed as Gaza-based revealed locations in Europe, North America, and Turkey after the transparency update.

These accounts generated compelling narratives and imagery, influencing journalists, NGOs, and policymakers by masquerading as frontline observers.

Impact on public discourse: Misleading accounts shaped public perception and policy debates, with unverified posts cited in media and government discussions.

Western media amplified these narratives, often before verifying authenticity, allowing synthetic accounts to dominate discussions with emotional framing.

Mitigating synthetic influence: To counteract misinformation, platforms need to enforce regional presence verification, and governments should address disinformation as influence operations.

Journalists and NGOs must adopt rigorous source verification to prevent narrative manipulation and ensure factual reporting.

To read the full article, click here.

Egypt and the Erosion of Camp David

A restricted military zone along the border between Israel and Egypt in a remote part of the Negev and the Sinai deserts. Shutterstock

By: Aaron Shuster

The Camp David Accords, once a pillar of Middle East peace, face subtle erosion as Egypt's selective enforcement undermines their strategic intent.

Incremental breakdown in enforcement: Egypt hasn't formally violated the treaty, but its permissive stance on Rafah tunnels enables Hamas's activities.

This gradual erosion raises questions about Egypt's commitment to preventing the Sinai from serving as a logistics corridor for threats against Israel.

Assumptions vs. reality: The treaty's foundational assumptions no longer align with current dynamics, as incremental exceptions dilute its security logic.

October 7, 2023, highlighted the consequences of these overlooked enforcement gaps, revealing a normalization of conditions that undermine the treaty.

Need for reassessment: To restore the treaty's credibility, policymakers must evaluate its effectiveness based on current realities, not legacy assumptions.

Treaties endure through active maintenance and adaptation, ensuring they fulfill their intended security roles in a changing strategic landscape.

To read the full article, click here.

How Ankara and Riyadh Are Engineering Sudan's Collapse

A fragmented Sudan is less threatening to regional powers than a strong, unified, democratic Sudan that might challenge the status quo in the Arab League or the African Union. Shutterstock

By: Amine Ayoub

Sudan's conflict, once seen as an internal power struggle, is now driven by competing regional interests, with Turkey and Saudi Arabia playing pivotal roles.

Turkey's drone diplomacy: Ankara supplies unmanned combat aerial vehicles to the Sudanese Armed Forces, shifting the military balance and encouraging prolonged conflict.

This tactic entrenches Turkey's influence in the region, creating dependency through military technology and strategic positioning in the Red Sea corridor.

Saudi's paradoxical role: While hosting peace talks, Riyadh's inaction on Sudan's illicit gold trade finances the conflict, as gold fuels war economies and sustains the Rapid Support Forces.

Saudi Arabia's geopolitical strategy aims to maintain influence over Sudan's coastline, valuing a compliant state over a democratic one.

Regional proxy warfare: The Sudanese war, driven by foreign ambitions, ensures continuous conflict as external powers balance each other's influence.

Addressing this regional crisis requires shifting focus from internal actors to external enablers, aiming for a sustainable resolution.

To read the full article, click here.

The Maghreb's American Moment: Peace Through Strength Beats European Stagnation

By: Amine Ayoub

The 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) dramatically shifts U.S. focus from Europe to North Africa, offering the Maghreb strategic partnerships based on mutual interests rather than dependency.

Strategic realignment: The U.S. bypasses Europe, offering direct partnerships to North Africa under "Principled Realism" and "Hard Sovereignty."

This approach promises immediate benefits like energy investments, contrasting with Europe's delayed green promises.

Risks of blind realism: While the U.S. rejects past nation-building, it risks supporting regimes that prioritize regime security over national stability.

Tunisia exemplifies the dangers of supporting autocratic chaos over democratic progress, potentially leading to unrest.

Path to genuine independence: North African leaders face a choice: clinging to European stagnation or embracing American-backed sovereignty demanding competent governance.

For the United States, the strategy is sound, provided it remembers a lesson from its own history: Realism does not mean amoralism.
America should back sovereign nations, yes. But it must ensure partners are building states resilient enough to survive the 21st century.

To read the full article, click here.

What Ethiopia's Addis Ababa School Case Shows About Greek Diplomacy

Students line up as they await the start of afternoon classes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Shutterstock

By: Nicoletta Kouroushi

Christian communities in the Middle East and East Africa face pressures from political instability and state regulations, with Greece playing a pivotal role in safeguarding these minority presences.

Ethiopia's regulatory squeeze: The Greek Community School in Addis Ababa faced closure due to new regulations and ownership disputes, threatening its historic role.

Diplomatic interventions from Greece and the EU de-escalated tensions, preserving the school's autonomy and highlighting the power of sustained international attention.

Broader implications: The experience of the Greek Community School underscores how the security of historic Christian presences depends on clear legal frameworks, predictable administrative processes, and sustained diplomatic involvement when disputes arise.

For Greece, the episode reflects a broader pattern in which diplomatic action contributes to the protection of Christian communities in regions where their future remains uncertain, and it illustrates how Greece must act far beyond its borders to protect its legacy and even centuries-old diasporas.

Geopolitical context: Ethiopia's shifting alliances with Turkey and China reflect broader regional dynamics, influencing regulatory pressures on foreign-affiliated institutions.