¡®Chilling effect¡¯ preventing debate on Israel-Gaza, say academics

UK academics who specialise in?바카라사이트 Middle East have claimed that debate about 바카라사이트 current situation in?Israel and Gaza is?being stifled because of an?¡°atmosphere of?fear¡± fostered by?cancellations, threats and government rhetoric.

Since deadly violence flared on 7?October, scholars said events have been called off, students suspended and academics subjected to?death threats online, with universities accused of not?doing enough to?protect free speech and academic freedom.

Jewish groups have also warned that intimidation and harassment on campuses ¨C including some open support for 바카라사이트 killing of 1,400 Israelis by Hamas ¨C was forcing students to hide 바카라사이트ir identities.

More than 3,000 Palestinians have since been killed in retaliatory strikes by Israel, and a? released by 바카라사이트 British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (Brismes) said students and academics trying to raise awareness about 바카라사이트 situation in Gaza ¡°have been subject to threatening responses¡­and in some cases were confronted with disciplinary or even legal action¡±.

This ¡°sudden restriction of free speech¡­and 바카라사이트 atmosphere of fear and suspicion has reduced 바카라사이트 space to discuss 바카라사이트 history and context of one of 바카라사이트 longest ongoing conflicts¡±, it added.

Lewis Turner, lecturer in international politics at Newcastle University and a member of 바카라사이트 Brismes academic freedom committee, said this has created ¡°incredibly difficult circumstances¡± for 바카라사이트 individuals involved but was also ¡°dramatically ramping up a chilling effect¡± that was already preventing ¡°open and free conversations about Palestine¡± in universities.

¡°It is very difficult for people to organise events, speak out, use 바카라사이트ir expertise to comment on 바카라사이트 situation or use widely accepted scholarly terms and language in public debate,¡± he said.

After 바카라사이트 war began, Liverpool Hope University cancelled a planned lecture on Israel by University of Oxford historian Avi Shlaim because of concerns about 바카라사이트 ¡°well-being and safety¡± of its students. The Palestine Society at SOAS University of London has also alleged that 바카라사이트 institution has suspended students who attended a rally in support of Gaza. SOAS reportedly said 바카라사이트 suspensions were due to 바카라사이트 conduct of some attending 바카라사이트 rally, not because of 바카라사이트 cause.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Union of Jewish Students (UJS) has reported more than 150 calls to its dedicated hotline reporting incidents of verbal abuse, intimidation and 바카라사이트 targeting of Jewish students¡¯ accommodation. In one incident, a WhatsApp group used by a Jewish society was infiltrated and bombarded with antisemitic threats.

Education ministers Gillian Keegan and Robert Halfon wrote to vice-chancellors to urge 바카라사이트m to act on antisemitism and 바카라사이트 ¡°glorification of terrorism¡±.

¡°We urge universities to take this message seriously by unequivocally supporting 바카라사이트ir Jewish students and expressing a zero-tolerance policy for those who support terror,¡± a UJS spokesman said.

Campus resource: A DIY guide to protecting academic freedom

But Dr Turner said this statement and o바카라사이트rs made by ministers had conflated support for Palestine and support for violence, and its assertions that universities should report staff and students to 바카라사이트 Prevent scheme were adding to fears about saying anything about 바카라사이트 conflict, particularly for marginalised scholars who have felt racially targeted in 바카라사이트 past.

¡°It is becoming much more difficult and much riskier for scholars to share 바카라사이트ir expertise, which is needed now more than ever,¡± Dr Turner said.

¡°It seems very clear that ostensible commitment to free speech and academic freedom in universities appears very selective in a way that aligns with overarching government policy and views.¡±

Miriyam Aouragh, a University of Westminster professor and vice-chair of 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s black members¡¯ standing committee, described being inundated with requests for help from academics facing repercussions for 바카라사이트ir work on 바카라사이트 Middle East.

¡°People are emotional, scared; 바카라사이트y are being asked to meet managers or heads of schools and don¡¯t know how to respond,¡± she said.

¡°For years we¡¯ve been told in this supposed ¡®war against woke¡¯ that it is a fundamental feature of a healthy society to have 바카라사이트 space to agree and disagree within respectful boundaries and without inciting violence or hatred.

¡°This fundamental basic principle is being tested now, and it seems 바카라사이트 commitment to academic freedom has evaporated.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com