Thursday 12th May 2011

Students and supporters meet outside the Hallward Library, University of Nottingham to protest at the suspension of Dr Rod Thornton. They called for his immediate reinstatement.

Dr Thornton, an expert in counter-insurgency and ANTI-terrorism had prepared a paper for the British International Studies Association (BISA) in which he exposed the University of Nottingham’s actions which led to the wrongful arrest of the ‘Nottingham Two’ as suspected terrorists for possessing documents available in the university’s own library. It also reveals how senior figures attempted to remove the MA student, Rizwaan Sabir, from the university after his release.

The research paper - “How a student’s use of a library book became a “major Islamist plot” - uncovers how Nottingham University's misinformation has seeped into policy circles. The arrest of the 'Nottingham Two' is now advertised as a 'major Islamist plot' by the Home Office

The paper Nottingham Uni doesn't want you to read

http://nottingham.indymedia.org/zines/1762

In May 2008, counter-terrorism officers arrested and questioned Rizwaan Sabir along with Hicham Yezza, who worked as the principal school administrator at the university's School of Modern Languages.

Mr Sabir had downloaded the manual as part of his research for a dissertation and had sought Mr Yezza's help in drafting a PhD proposal because of his position as editor of a political magazine.

Six days later both men were released without charge.

The plot thinckens of course .... and now regarding Dr Thornton's Suspension, Rizwaan Sabir said: "When we have very serious allegations of misconduct being made against this university management, we have the silencing of the individual that made those allegations.

"Rather than looking at that report and the research which has taken three meticulous years to produce, we have the management - who are sitting only yards from this location - ordering his suspension with immediate effect.

"At a university which is meant to be the beacon of tolerance, respect, dignity and rationality it is frankly unacceptable that this has happened.

"My advice to the university is give us a public inquiry and we can all go back to our lives."

In a letter published in The Guardian, the group of scholars, including philosopher and cognitive scientist Mr Chomsky - based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - said the original arrests were "perceived as being indicative of a growing tide of Islamophobia".

They wrote: "The claims he makes are very serious and should be subjected to a full and proper inquiry: they cannot be ignored.

"We call for the immediate reinstatement of Dr Rod Thornton and call on the University of Nottingham to openly and thoroughly examine the claims made in his research. We also request that an independent inquiry be conducted into the university's actions on this matter."

Prof Noam Chomsky MIT

Prof Paul Gilroy LSE

Dr Karma Nabulsi Oxford

Prof Charles Tripp SOAS

Prof Neera Chandhoke University of Delhi

Prof Michael Burawoy University of California, Berkeley

Prof Patrick Bond University of KwaZulu-Natal

Prof David McNally York University (Toronto)

Prof Bill Bowring University of Essex

Prof John Harriss Simon Fraser University (Canada)

Prof Neil Smith City University, New York

Dr Norman Finkelstein

Prof Joyce Canaan Birmingham City University

Prof Richard Keeble University of Lincoln

Prof Scott Lucas University of Birmingham 

Prof David Miller University of Strathclyde

Prof Ian Parker Manchester Metropolitan University

Prof Scott Poynting Manchester Metropolitan University

Prof Lucy Suchman University of Lancaster

Dr Bernard Sufrin Oxford (Worcester College)

Dr Laleh Khalili SOAS

Dr Rahul Rao SOAS

Dr Tufyal Choudhury University of Durham

Dr Polly Pallister-Wilkins SOAS

Dr Mark Laffey SOAS

Dr Corinna Mullin SOAS

Dr Arshin Adib-Moghaddam SOAS

Dr Kate Tunstall Oxford (Worcester College)

Dr Alf Nilsen University of Bergen

Dr Sudhir Hazareesingh Oxford (Balliol College)

Dr Eddie Yuen San Francisco Art Institute

Dr Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed University of Sussex

Dr Tim Jacoby University of Manchester

Dr Laurence Cox National University of Ireland

Dr Jairus Banaji SOAS

Dr Ole Johnny Olsen University of Bergen

Dr Bhabani Sshankar Nayak Glasgow Caledonian University

Dr Rupert Read University of East Anglia

Dr Subir Sinha SOAS

Dr Neil Davidson University of Strathclyde

Dr Arun Kundnani London Metropolitan University

Dr Rashmi Varma University of Warwick

Dr Michael Edwards UCL

Dr Timothy Jones University of Glamorgan

Dr Jessie Blackbourn University of Salford 

Dr Steve Hurst Manchester Metropolitan University

Dr Steve Hewitt University of Birmingham

Dr Nisha Kapoor Manchester Metropolitan University

Dr Jodie Chapell University of Lancaster

Dr Jack Nye Open University

Dr James Brown University of Cambridge

Dr Nicola Pratt University of Warwick

Dr Carlos Frade University of Salford

Dr Sherifa D Zuhur Strategic Studies Institute, United States Army War College

Dr Alex Dennis University of Salford

Dr William Dinan University of Strathclyde

Dr Piers Robinson University of Manchester

Dr Peter Bratsis University of Salford

Dr Helen Dexter University of Manchester

Dr Peter Waterman International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague

Dr Aggie Hirst Liverpool Hope University

Dr Max Farrar Leeds Metropolitan University  

Dr Elena Vezzadini École des hautes études en Sciences Sociales

Dr Giselle Vincett University of Edinburgh

Dr Betty Hagglund University of Birmingham

Dr Gary Fooks University of Bath

Dr Mahmood Delkhasteh

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2011/may/10/call-to-reinstate-terror-academci

*****

PRESS RELEASE 

‘“REINSTATE DR ROD THORNTON”, DECLARE WORLD SCHOLARS AHEAD OF PROTEST’

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON TUESDAY 10 MAY 2011

 In a letter published by The Guardian on May 10 2011 [1], 70 leading academics and scholars from across the world, including Professors Noam Chomsky, Neera Chandhoke, Paul Gilroy and Charles Tripp, have called for the reinstatement of Dr. Rod Thornton (QGM) with immediate effect. This letter comes ahead of Thursday’s (12 May) planned protest at the University of Nottingham (at 12 noon) calling for a public enquiry. 

 Dr Thornton was suspended for producing whistle-blowing research [2] that exposed the University of Nottingham’s actions which led to the wrongful arrest of the ‘Nottingham Two’ as suspected terrorists for possessing 3 documents available in the university’s own library. It also reveals how senior figures attempted to remove the MA student, Rizwaan Sabir, from the university after his release.

 The research paper - “How a student’s use of a library book became a “major Islamist plot” - uncovers how Nottingham University's misinformation has seeped into policy circles. The arrest of the 'Nottingham Two' is now advertised as a 'major Islamist plot' by the Home Office [3] Another government department calls the library books in question “extremist material” [4].  

 Dr Thornton, a former advisor to the UK & US militaries said: “I want to thank the signatories for their belief and support in this difficult time and would welcome my reinstatement and, especially, an independent inquiry.”.

A S.W.A.N (Supporting the Whistleblower At Nottingham) campaign spokesperson said: “This report raises some very serious issues and must not be ignored. The university’s whistle-blowers code protects Dr Thornton from suspension. He must be reinstated. A public enquiry must be launched.” 

Dr Thornton’s article has had 10,000+ hits so far. 

CONTACT 

SWAN Campaign

Telephone: +44(0)7835871096 

Email: nottinghamwhistleblower@gmail.com

Website (coming soon): http://nottinghamwhistleblower.wordpress.com 

NOTE TO EDITORS

[1] The letter to the Guardian can be accessed here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2011/may/10/call-to-reinstate-terror-academci 

[2] A 5 page Key Findings report has now also been released. It can be accessed here - http://www.scribd.com/doc/55057018/KEY-FINDINGS-THE-EXPOSE-THAT-NOTTINGHAM-UNI-WISHES-YOU-NEVER-READ 

[3] The document which refers to the arrest of the “Nottingham Two” as a “major Islamist plot” was disseminated by the Home Office in April 2010 via a Freedom of Information request that asked for information on terror plots in the UK from 2006-2008. The report was authored by the Heritage Foundation in Oct 2009 http://s3.amazonaws.com/thf_media/2009/pdf/bg2329.pdf

[4] Undated document released under the Freedom of Information Act from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) entitled “Lines to take [to the media] on recent Nottingham arrests”. See footnote 90 and 313 of Dr. Thornton’s article. 

PREVIOUS PRESS RELEASES

1. Al-Qaeda Arrest Whistle-Blower Silenced by University - http://www.scribd.com/doc/54694233/PRESS-RELEASE-1-Al-Qaeda-Arrest-Whistle-Blower-Silenced-by-University 

2. Suspended: Terror Arrest Whistle-Blower - http://www.scribd.com/doc/54694627/PRESS-RELEASE-2-Suspended-Terror-Arrest-Whistle-blower 

*****

links from the ongoing situation:

Nottingham University Demo for Academic Freedom & Against Deportation - Readings

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/05/399779.html

Nottingham University Demo for Academic Freedom & Against Deportation - Silent March

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/05/399800.html

Hundreds Join Demo for Academic Freedom and Against Deportation

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/05/399776.html

Comment on University Communication on Recent Events

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/05/399622.html

Support Hicham Yezza and Protect Academic Freedom

http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com

Al Qaeda Training Manual [US Dept of Justice] this is what the fuss is all about, as you see, it is a publically available document. 

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/terrorism/alqaida%5Fmanual/ 

Nottingham University Students Occupation in Solidarity with Gaza

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420886.html

Books not Bombs, A Rally for Gaza, University of Nottingham

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421591.html

____________________________________________

ALAN LODGE 

Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham.  UK

Email:                 tash@indymedia.org

Web:                   http://digitaljournalist.eu

Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]

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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.

                                   It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"

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