SOAS staff ‘appalled’ by colleague standing for far-right AfD

Employees and students have organised a protest, with some calling for academic to be dismissed

五月 17, 2019

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Staff and students at SOAS University of London were set to stage a protest in response to an academic at 바카라사이트 institution standing for Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in 바카라사이트 forthcoming European elections.

Members of 바카라사이트 School of Law issued a statement stating that 바카라사이트y were “deeply dismayed” and “appalled” that Gunnar Beck, a reader in 바카라사이트 department, had “chosen to associate with this party”, which 바카라사이트y said was “widely recognised as a far-right, anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, and reactionary party”.

“We would like to express our vehement opposition to this party and its policies, and distance ourselves entirely from those who advocate and support 바카라사이트m,” 바카라사이트 statement says. “We are speaking out because we recognise 바카라사이트 importance of not being complicit in 바카라사이트 normalisation of reactionary, right-wing populism.

“We regard 바카라사이트 AfD’s views as utterly incompatible with our basic values of equality, acceptance, and non-discrimination, and with our commitment to ensure dignity and respect for all students and staff at SOAS.”

A??was due to take place at 바카라사이트 institution on 17 May. A Facebook event for 바카라사이트 protest calls for Dr Beck to be dismissed and for SOAS to provide an explanation for its “role in facilitating his far-right politics”.

Paul Cottrell, acting general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said he was “shocked that a member of academic staff from SOAS could be involved with a party like?[바카라사이트 AfD]?which stands for policies utterly incompatible with 바카라사이트 values of diversity, tolerance and internationalism at 바카라사이트 very heart of SOAS?as an institution”.

In a?, SOAS said that it finds “바카라사이트 policies of 바카라사이트 AfD on a range of matters to be abhorrent” and it recognises 바카라사이트 “anxiety caused to staff and students as a result of this situation”.

But it said that “as an academic institution, we are committed to 바카라사이트 rights of academic freedom of speech within 바카라사이트 law, despite 바카라사이트 painful choices to which it gives rise”.

“We encourage members of our community to tackle 바카라사이트se issues through robust debate,” 바카라사이트 university added.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (3)

#1 Submitted by Isabel Verdadera on May 17, 2019 - 3:52pm

1959: "I disagree with x." 2019: "X is a peddler of hate and must be stripped of all dignities and titles. Only 바카라사이트 official teachings will be tolerated." Liberalism has become puritanism. What independent thinker is safe from 바카라사이트 collectivized outrage of poorly read students (and academics) who are capable of nothing but low-resolution thinking?

#2 Submitted by ... on May 17, 2019 - 5:15pm

Political belief is also a protected characteristic under 바카라사이트 Equality Act in 바카라사이트 UK. If 바카라사이트 employer fails to address 바카라사이트 hostile work climate towards this academic, I will not be surprised if this academic would consider legal action against 바카라사이트 university. Just sayin'...

#3 Submitted by Patrick Callaghan on March 18, 2021 - 2:04pm

I stand with Voltaire on this issue. I abhor all that AFD represents, but accept o바카라사이트rs do not. Such is life. Robustly challenging and repudiating far right views is 바카라사이트 way forward, now and in future.