The U of A Scholars at Risk committee will host an Afghani scholar to campus for a lecture during International Education Week Nov. 18-22.

Sarwerasa Rafizada, a visiting researcher and adjunct professor at the University of California Los Angeles, will discuss her research into contemporary Persian literature during a talk from 4-5:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in room 102 of Gearhart Hall.

Specifically, Rafizada's research seeks to promote the recognition of Afghan women and their literary works internationally, explore societal inequities perpetuated by patriarchal systems and raise awareness of the unjust distribution of power within Afghanistan's society.

"In Afghanistan's patriarchal society, women's identities are often suppressed, making literature the primary avenue where they can freely express their emotions, desires and aspirations," she stated. "As an expert in contemporary Afghan literature and a member of the Afghan women's community, I am deeply committed to gender studies and feminism. Afghan women have significantly influenced social developments through their literary contributions, both in poetry and fiction, striving to assert their gender identities despite societal constraints."

Rafizada faced significant challenges in her pursuit of education due to the War in Afghanistan and Taliban rule. After her desire to pursue collegiate studies was stymied in the mid-1990s, she returned to school at Kabul University in 2002, where she earned a degree in Persian literature. In 2008, she earned a master's degree at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Iran and three years later, earned a doctorate from the same institution.

Upon returning to Afghanistan, Rafizada taught and conducted research for six years at Rana University in Kabul until August of 2021. Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, she relocated to Pakistan and subsequently to the United States. Prior to her time at UCLA, she served a visiting researcher at the Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture at the University of California Irvine.

"We are honored to host a scholar from the Scholars at Risk program at the University of Arkansas," said Adnan Alrubaye, co-chair of the Scholars at Risk Committee. "This partnership reflects our commitment to academic freedom and supporting those who seek refuge from oppression. We believe that fostering diverse perspectives enriches our community and enhances the educational experience for all. We look forward to engaging with our visiting scholar and learning from their unique insights and experiences."

Scholars at Risk is an international network of higher education institutions and individuals working to protect scholars and promote academic freedom. The U of A is an institutional member of the Scholars at Risk network. The 2024 Scholars at Risk Endowed Lecture is also made possible through an endowed gift from Dick Bennett, U of A professor emeritus of English.

This event is co-sponsored by the U of A Scholars at Risk Committee, the King Fahad Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Graduate School and International Education.

For more information, contact Alrubaye at aakhalaf@uark.edu.