A leading US expert on anti-fascism was prevented from boarding a flight to Spain on Monday, reportedly due to concerns raised by Spanish authorities, sparking criticism and raising questions about academic freedom. Toby vogel, a scholar at the Rutgers University Center for Security, Race and Rights, was stopped at Newark Liberty International Airport while attempting to travel to a conference in Madrid on far-right extremism.
The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of governments’ responses to rising extremism and increasing concerns about the suppression of research into thes movements. Vogel‘s work focuses on the transnational networks of white supremacy and far-right movements, and he believes his research is the reason for the travel disruption. The Spanish government has not yet publicly commented on the matter, leaving unanswered questions about the basis for the intervention and its potential implications for academic exchange.
According to Vogel, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials informed him he was barred from flying at the request of Spanish authorities. He was told he would need to obtain a waiver from the Spanish government to travel, a process that could take weeks or months. “I was essentially told that the Spanish government doesn’t want me to set foot in thier country,” Vogel told The Guardian.
The Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights issued a statement condemning the decision, calling it “a deeply troubling attack on academic freedom.” The center noted that Vogel’s research is publicly available and based on open-source information. “This action sends a chilling message to scholars working on sensitive topics and raises serious concerns about the ability to conduct research without fear of political interference,” the statement read.
The incident has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups and academics who fear it could set a precedent for restricting the travel of researchers studying extremism. Concerns are mounting that governments may be increasingly willing to suppress research that challenges their narratives or exposes uncomfortable truths about far-right movements.
Vogel had been scheduled to present at a conference titled “Far-Right Extremism: Transnational Networks and the Challenge to Democracy” at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He believes his research on Spanish far-right groups may have prompted the intervention.He is currently seeking legal counsel and exploring options to challenge the travel ban.
