Nttm 3! Dr.Thornton, Rizwaan Sabir & Hicham Yezza
tash@indymedia.org (Tash [Alan Lodge]) | 29.12.2012 00:44
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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tash@indymedia.org (Tash [Alan Lodge])
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1767