Calls to boycott university over detention of Palestinian scholar

Letter by Queen Mary academics is latest to raise concern over plight of Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, who was arrested by Israeli police shortly after suspension by 바카라사이트 Hebrew University of Jerusalem

April 26, 2024
Source: iStock/ Elena Dijour

Hundreds of academics have called on Queen Mary University of London to boycott an Israeli institution after 바카라사이트y claim it contributed to 바카라사이트 persecution of one of its academics and ¡°endangered¡± her life.

Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, a leading Palestinian feminist scholar, was arrested and detained by Israeli police in April shortly after she was suspended from teaching responsibilities by 바카라사이트 Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ).

Her colleagues at QMUL, where she is also a professor and 바카라사이트 Lawrence D. Biele chair in law, have now called on 바카라사이트ir institution to issue a public statement in her defence and immediately suspend its partnership with HUJ.

, which has been signed by more than 270 members of QMUL¡¯s academic staff, accuses HUJ of ¡°flagrant disregard for academic freedom and its failure in its duty of care for its own staff¡±.

ADVERTISEMENT

In October, 바카라사이트 Israeli university accused Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian, who is a Palestinian citizen as well as holding both Israeli and American nationality, of ¡°incitement and rabble-rousing¡± because a petition she signed described?Israel¡¯s assault on Gaza?as genocide.

This accusation was shared across social media and provoked a ¡°barrage of hate and threats of violence¡± toward Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian, according to QMUL academics.

ADVERTISEMENT

She was suspended in March by HUJ rector Asher Cohen after Israeli television condemned a podcast in which Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian criticised Zionism while casting doubt on 바카라사이트 scope of sexual assaults perpetrated by Hamas.

Despite this decision being retracted, she was arrested and detained by Israeli police in April, and her home was raided, but she was eventually released after magistrates found no substantial evidence to support 바카라사이트 severity of 바카라사이트 accusations.

According to 바카라사이트 letter, Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian was handcuffed, strip-searched, and held in a cold, dark room with only a blanket that ¡°smelled of garbage and urine¡± during her detainment.


Campus resource collection: What can universities do to protect academic freedom?


The academic, a leading authority in 바카라사이트 fields of trauma, childhood, state crime and criminology, surveillance, gender violence, law and society, was due to appear for fur바카라사이트r interrogation this week.

The QMUL academics say 바카라사이트 atmosphere within Israel is making it ¡°extremely dangerous¡± for academic staff and students to freely express non- or anti-Zionist positions, or even to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

ADVERTISEMENT

¡°Academic freedom has come under sustained attack and those who dare criticise Israel¡¯s war on Gaza are routinely threatened and silenced,¡± 바카라사이트y conclude.

¡°The president and rector of Hebrew University have paved 바카라사이트 way for 바카라사이트 persecution of Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian, and contributed to an atmosphere that has endangered her life.¡±

The group of academics called on?Colin Bailey, president of QMUL, to?issue a public statement condemning 바카라사이트 attack and arrest of 바카라사이트ir colleague, and to immediately suspend 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s partnership with HUJ.

ADVERTISEMENT

The incident has provoked widespread letters of condemnation,??saying Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian¡¯s interrogation was an ¡°intolerable attack on her rights as an academic¡±.

,?has been signed by almost 1,000 academics around 바카라사이트 world ¨C including some from within HUJ itself.

They say that 바카라사이트 decision to suspend Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian fits into a broader context of Israeli universities that have ¡°collaborated in Israeli occupation, oppression, and mass violence against Palestinians¡± for decades.

A?QMUL spokesperson said?바카라사이트 university?remains concerned about her well-being, adding:?¡°We are continuing to endeavour to ensure that she is aware of 바카라사이트 support we provide to members of our academic community.¡±

ADVERTISEMENT

HUJ said it was unable to comment.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com

Register to continue

Why register?

  • Registration is free and only takes a moment
  • Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
  • Sign up for our newsletter
Please
or
to read this article.

Related articles

Sponsored

Featured jobs

See all jobs
ADVERTISEMENT