Muslim student calls on SOAS Director to quit
by Fuad Ali | 29.01.2006 06:56 | Education
A Muslim student who was reprimanded for criticising the Israeli army in a student union publication has called on the Director of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) to quit. Nasser Amin, a masters student at the University of London, initiated a formal student grievance procedure against the School and Director Colin Bundy for failing to follow their own procedure.
In March of this year, an article by Mr Amin, in which he defended the right of Palestinians to using violence in retaliation against Israel, attracted much coverage in the press thanks in no small part, he says, to pro-Israel supporters. Following considerable external pressure, the Director of the School, Mr Bundy, issued a statement on the School’s website in which he claimed to have reprimanded Mr Amin.
According to Nasser Amin, however, he received no official notice of such a reprimand and he is adamant the Director did not follow the proper procedures and has acted outside his authority. He, and lawyers acting on his behalf, have vowed to peruse the matter even to the European Court of Human Rights, if need be.
Fauz Khan, of NK Legal solicitors, says "We’re very confident that Mr Amin has a very strong case, in fact we’re waiting for it to go to a hearing (SOAS student grievance procedure) so we can prove our case" "the university was wrong to have taken the action it has taken and that will be vindicated once an independent, third party, objective assessment deals with the situation"
Mr Amin also says that his studies have suffered due to the stress he was put under after receiving death threats and the injustice he feels at being let down by the School. Though Mr Bundy has announced he will not be extending his contract, which ends next year, Mr Amin feels an immediate change at the top is the only way to stop the same thing happening to another student.
"I respectfully call on Mr. Bundy to give up his position now before the start of the academic year and make way for someone with the inclination to resist racially motivated witch hunts. We must not have a situation where another student’s life and future are destroyed partly because of the moral cowardice of the Directorate." Mr Amin said.
He continued "I have been persecuted because I dared to criticise the Israeli army. I believe that SOAS would have taken no action against me if I happened to be a non-Muslim and Caucasian. White academics and students at SOAS have condemned national armies, they have written about violence and the School has taken no action against them. They selected a Muslim for disciplinary action. I believe that SOAS is an institutionally racist and Islamophobic college."
In response to the accusations, SOAS issued a statement to The Muslim Weekly, in which they "categorically" denied being a racist or Islamophobic institution and reaffirmed their position that the Director acted well within his right. "Mr Amin’s article When only violence will do constituted a breach of the SOAS Freedom of Expression policy and provoked a complaint by a member of the School community. The School’s Disciplinary Code of Practise provides that the Director and Principal may rule that a complaint should not be the subject of further action, but that this ruling does not preclude informal action by way of a caution or otherwise, if appropriate." The statement said.
The whole issue has left a bitter taste in the mouth for many students who felt the case could set a dangerous precedent. Jamal El-Shayyal, spokesperson for the Islamic society of SOAS, expressed his deep unease at the way Mr Amin was treated.
He said: "Universities are thought of as a place where students are encouraged to debate issues and argue in favour of their political beliefs, as long as they are within a perimeter of decency and common morals and understandings in principals and so forth. So long as someone does not contravene that, then its fine, which I don’t think he (Nasser Amin) has.
"I think he gave a valid point which the majority of students at the university also express, but he was singled out and hounded by the School’s authorities which I think is unacceptable." Mr El-Shayyal continued.
The School’s formal student grievance procedure, called by Mr Nasser Amin, is due to be heard within two weeks.
In March of this year, an article by Mr Amin, in which he defended the right of Palestinians to using violence in retaliation against Israel, attracted much coverage in the press thanks in no small part, he says, to pro-Israel supporters. Following considerable external pressure, the Director of the School, Mr Bundy, issued a statement on the School’s website in which he claimed to have reprimanded Mr Amin.
According to Nasser Amin, however, he received no official notice of such a reprimand and he is adamant the Director did not follow the proper procedures and has acted outside his authority. He, and lawyers acting on his behalf, have vowed to peruse the matter even to the European Court of Human Rights, if need be.
Fauz Khan, of NK Legal solicitors, says "We’re very confident that Mr Amin has a very strong case, in fact we’re waiting for it to go to a hearing (SOAS student grievance procedure) so we can prove our case" "the university was wrong to have taken the action it has taken and that will be vindicated once an independent, third party, objective assessment deals with the situation"
Mr Amin also says that his studies have suffered due to the stress he was put under after receiving death threats and the injustice he feels at being let down by the School. Though Mr Bundy has announced he will not be extending his contract, which ends next year, Mr Amin feels an immediate change at the top is the only way to stop the same thing happening to another student.
"I respectfully call on Mr. Bundy to give up his position now before the start of the academic year and make way for someone with the inclination to resist racially motivated witch hunts. We must not have a situation where another student’s life and future are destroyed partly because of the moral cowardice of the Directorate." Mr Amin said.
He continued "I have been persecuted because I dared to criticise the Israeli army. I believe that SOAS would have taken no action against me if I happened to be a non-Muslim and Caucasian. White academics and students at SOAS have condemned national armies, they have written about violence and the School has taken no action against them. They selected a Muslim for disciplinary action. I believe that SOAS is an institutionally racist and Islamophobic college."
In response to the accusations, SOAS issued a statement to The Muslim Weekly, in which they "categorically" denied being a racist or Islamophobic institution and reaffirmed their position that the Director acted well within his right. "Mr Amin’s article When only violence will do constituted a breach of the SOAS Freedom of Expression policy and provoked a complaint by a member of the School community. The School’s Disciplinary Code of Practise provides that the Director and Principal may rule that a complaint should not be the subject of further action, but that this ruling does not preclude informal action by way of a caution or otherwise, if appropriate." The statement said.
The whole issue has left a bitter taste in the mouth for many students who felt the case could set a dangerous precedent. Jamal El-Shayyal, spokesperson for the Islamic society of SOAS, expressed his deep unease at the way Mr Amin was treated.
He said: "Universities are thought of as a place where students are encouraged to debate issues and argue in favour of their political beliefs, as long as they are within a perimeter of decency and common morals and understandings in principals and so forth. So long as someone does not contravene that, then its fine, which I don’t think he (Nasser Amin) has.
"I think he gave a valid point which the majority of students at the university also express, but he was singled out and hounded by the School’s authorities which I think is unacceptable." Mr El-Shayyal continued.
The School’s formal student grievance procedure, called by Mr Nasser Amin, is due to be heard within two weeks.
by Fuad Ali
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