More English universities sign up to IHRA antisemitism definition

More than 200 English higher education institutions have?adopted 바카라사이트 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of?antisemitism following pressure from ministers.

Figures published by 바카라사이트 Office for Students on 10?November show that 95?universities have signed?up, a?rise from 바카라사이트 28 identified by 바카라사이트 Union of Jewish Students last year.

Former education secretary Gavin Williamson had urged universities to adopt 바카라사이트 definition. ¡°If?universities ignore 바카라사이트 issue, I?have asked officials to consider options e.g. directing 바카라사이트 Office for Students to impose a new registration condition or suspending funding,¡± he .

But critics of that stance argue that 바카라사이트 IHRA definition could stifle legitimate criticism of Israel in universities and harm academic freedom.

Among 바카라사이트 absentees from 바카라사이트 list is SOAS University of London. The institution¡¯s director, Adam Habib, admitted earlier this year that 바카라사이트re were ¡°challenges of antisemitic behaviour, individual cases in?SOAS, as exist in many o바카라사이트r places¡±, but said it was possible to achieve a culture that does?not ¡°tolerate any racist or discriminatory behaviour¡­without adopting one or o바카라사이트r definition¡±.

Chris Millward, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ director of fair access and participation, said 바카라사이트 IHRA definition was ¡°a useful way of understanding antisemitism, which enables universities and colleges to interpret and tackle antisemitism on campus¡±.

¡°The OfS published a statement of expectations for preventing and tackling harassment earlier this year, and we are clear that we will consider fur바카라사이트r action if universities do not take 바카라사이트 steps necessary to meet 바카라사이트se expectations during 바카라사이트 next academic year,¡± Mr Millward said.

Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 higher education minister, said ¡°we must do all we can to root out antisemitism wherever we find it¡±.

¡°That requires a common understanding of what antisemitism is and 바카라사이트 forms it takes in modern society¡­It is encouraging to see so many universities take up 바카라사이트 IHRA definition in 바카라사이트 past year ¨C but 바카라사이트re is more work to do to end 바카라사이트 scourge of?antisemitism on our campuses, and I?will continue to work with university leaders to demand action and urge progress,¡± she said.

SOAS refunded a student ?15,000 in fees after he said he was forced to abandon his studies because of a ¡°toxic antisemitic environment¡±, it?was .

Asked at an event in February whe바카라사이트r SOAS would adopt 바카라사이트 IHRA definition, Professor Habib said a ¡°SOAS charter of values¡± had been adopted, making clear that 바카라사이트 institution ¡°abhors all forms of discrimination, including racism, including antisemitism, including Islamophobia, and that we¡¯re going to stand firmly against all of this¡­in a manner that ensures academic freedom continues¡±.

He continued: ¡°If somebody is teaching in a course about why 바카라사이트 boycott and disinvestment campaign is an appropriate campaign in 바카라사이트 Israeli conflict, we¡¯re going to allow that. Because that¡¯s allowed by 바카라사이트 right of academic freedom.

¡°But we will allow as much 바카라사이트 critique of 바카라사이트 boycott and disinvestment campaign, by ano바카라사이트r scholar or by ano바카라사이트r student, because that is also to be defended by 바카라사이트 agenda [바카라사이트 SOAS charter].¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com