For more than a quarter of a century, the case of Pinar Selek has haunted Turkey’s courts and human rights defenders around the world. A feminist, sociologist, and outspoken anti-militarist, Selek has faced repeated prosecutions and life-threatening charges despite the absence of evidence, ultimately forcing her into exile. Her story is not an anomaly.

Around the world, countless scholars have endured political persecution simply because of their research, or because the independence of their work was perceived as a threat. Many have been driven from their homelands, cut off from their communities, and forced to rebuild their lives in foreign countries.

In this episode, Professor Pascale Laborier sheds light on the difficulties and hardships exiled scholars encounter, and explains why—even in exile—their home governments continue to haunt them through surveillance, intimidation, and legal harassment.