Hi, my name is Colin Wight. I'm a Professor of International Relations at the University of Sydney. You can find me tweeting on politics, culture, sport, and music at @colwight. I want to take a few moments of your time to highlight the case of Kylie Moore-Gilbert. 1/ #KylieIsUs

Kylie is a young early career researcher (ECR) who has been held in Iran on trumped (no pun intended) up charges of espionage for 768 days now. I don't know Kylie personally, but as senior professor in the field of political science, I've followed her case closely. 2/

Although I've never met Kylie, I know lots of Kylies (and Kens). Enthusiastic young researchers keen to conduct their research and advance knowledge. As a discipline, we have to duty to protect these young researchers. Science also has a responsibility to protect them. 3/

The advance of science depends on academic freedom. Everyone researching in foreign countries could be the next Kylie. The academic community (not just in Australia) needs to be fighting to free Kylie. She is a victim of hostage diplomacy. 4/

We need international protocols protecting academic freedom. This is becoming a priority. @HeathershawJ has begun early work on this: https://universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20201015062104681/. But all academics need to get behind this and support each other. 5/

Let's do what we can to raise the profile of Kylie's plight. Write to your political representatives and lobby your professional associations. Or, just retweet this thread. Kylie's problem is potentially every academic's problem. 6/

Ping: @dhnexon, @dandrezner, @RadioFreeTom, @stephenwalt, @DrLeeJones, @thephillippics, @timdunneAPR2P, @ShaharHameiri, @Alex_J_Bellamy, @Docstockk, @SwipeWright, @JonHaidt and @kenanmalik. 7/7

unroll please @threadreaderapp :)