Activism and BDS Beat 12 May 2014
(courtesy Edinburgh SJP)
In an invitation to a restricted group of students, Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice Principal for Public Policy and Impact in the School of Social and Political Science, said that he “see[s] the University as a platform for open and critical debate about contested issues in UK and international politics.”
But when a graduate student not from one of the chosen courses asked to be allowed to join the event, he was told repeatedly in emails released exclusively to The Electronic Intifada that “we have over a period of months worked with internal and external stakeholders to agree a complex set of arrangements for this event. With regret I am unable to make exceptions to those arrangements.”
The student declined to be named publicly, fearing possible reprisals.
Another email from Professor Jeffery to the same student said: “I’m truly sorry that it will not be possible for you to attend. As you will appreciate such visits are sensitive and involve a number of considerations, including security. We have agreed a particular format and audience with the Embassy and are unable to change plans at this stage.”
No clear reasons were given for the student’s exclusion from the event, although Professor Jeffery denied that students from the Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) had been specifically banned. Those invited share a program of study with the excluded student, who is from IMES, but are registered with a different department.
A previous visit by Daniel Taub to the University of Edinburgh was seriously disrupted by protests by members of Students for Justice in Palestine, despite an enormous police presence.
Edinburgh Students for Justice in Palestine, along with the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Edinburgh University Student Association’s Black and Minority Ethnic Campaign, has called for protests against the latest event.
Tags
- University of Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Students for Justice in Palestine
- Daniel Taub
- Charlie Jeffery
- Edinburgh University Student Association
Comments
What is the University of
Permalink Artemis replied on
What is the University of Edinburgh up to? It's pretty extraordinary that this man should be invited AGAIN, only eighteen months after the previous debacle.
And even more extraordinary that Prof. Jeffery should contend that "an open and critical debate" can take place when the university is obviously in cahoots with the embassy and has vetted the list of student participants. Disgraceful.
I was formally invited as a
Permalink Musa replied on
I was formally invited as a student completing a Master's in International Relations of the Middle East, which is NOT within IMES. However, my invitation was rescinded "due to reasons beyond the university's control," which admittedly, is probably because of my pro-Palestinian beliefs.
THis uni's being oddly really
Permalink no name replied on
THis uni's being oddly really fascist as of late
Remember when Princess Anne came they kicked out a couple of intl students
Well I'm going with a group of friends and all of us have a mind to heckle this man back the middle ages from whence he emergeth
I work at the university, at
Permalink anon replied on
I work at the university, at the School of Social and Political Science, and I will be contacting my trade union about this.
Good for you
Permalink Philippa replied on
It's difficult to understand what such a prestigious universitywould hope to gain from this laughable and contrived "discussion". Israel, or this particular Israeli ambassador, seems to have a big foot in someone's door.Maybe the trade union has thoughts on that, and on how to stop this sullying of the university's good academic name.
banning students from Taub Hasbara Edinburgh lecture
Permalink chris burns-cox replied on
It is very likely that the Israelis have directly or indirectly offered Edinburgh Uni money for a hasbara chair in middle east studies or suchlike and money tends to win over morality and truth.