MEDIA RELEASES

University Apologises for Offensive Antisemitic Comments by Lecturer

Dec 11, 2015

Media Release

 

The Vice-Chancellor of Notre Dame University in Fremantle has dissociated her institution from overt anti-Jewish comments made in a blog posting by academic Dr Sandra Nasr.

Responding to a letter co-signed by Dr Colin Rubenstein and Jeremy Jones, respectively Executive Director and Director of International and of Community Affairs of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, Professor Celia Hammond said that Nasr’s comments do not represent “in any way” the opinions of the university and were not “endorsed or sanctioned” by it.

Given that the comments were not only contentious but caused offence, she wrote the University was disappointed and that the institution apologised for them. She concluded that “the University is addressing this issue with due seriousness in accordance with its relevant processes.”

In their letter, Rubenstein and Jones wrote that the posting by Dr Nasr, which appeared on, then was removed from, the website of the London School of Economics, contained a number of vicious slurs which amounted to racial and religious vilification.

They noted, “Anti-Jewish tropes relating to alleged, false, Jewish belief of superiority, depiction of adherents of Judaism as religiously-directed ‘ethnic cleansers’ and of Jews as ‘baying for blood’ have a long, undistinguished history, but in contemporary Australia are correctly identified with extreme right-wing bigots. The article contained all these deplorable stereotypes – but went even further, by providing a link to the writings of a Holocaust Denier who has been convicted for his anti-Jewish activities by a French Court. The post brought enormous discredit to the University of Notre Dame. This was not ‘merely’ an example of questionable scholarship but an example of racism and bigotry.”

Jeremy Jones, one of Australia’s most respected authorities on racism and a Co-Chair of the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism, said that Nasr’s post was little more than a pot pouri of prejudice, which would not have been out of place in any far-right wing propaganda leaflet. “I feel sorry for her students if this is an example of her ‘scholarship’,” he added.

Colin Rubenstein said the blog posting was embarrassing for the University, but “It is very heartening that Professor Hammond has treated this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Racism is no more tolerable in an academic guise than in any other forum, and brings discredit to the name of any academic institution with which it is associated. It is pleasing that Professor Hammond has implicitly acknowledged this with her speedy and proper response” he concluded.

 

Tags:

RELATED ARTICLES


Image: X/ Twitter screenshot

AIJAC deeply disappointed by dropping of investigation into Sydney hate-speech clerics

Dec 7, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
Section 93Z of the NSW Crimes Act 1900

AIJAC welcomes the passage of improved NSW race hate laws

Dec 1, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
Pro-Palestinian protestors waiting in the lobby for the Israeli families of those murdered or taken hostage by Hamas

AIJAC questions handling of pro-Palestinian protestors ambushing visiting families of Israeli murder victims and hostages

Nov 30, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
(Source: Pixabay)

AIJAC applauds Federal Government’s announcement of Nazi salute ban

Nov 28, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
The 13 hostages freed on Friday evening

AIJAC statement on release of hostages by Hamas

Nov 26, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
City,Of,Melbourne,,Vic/australia June,10th,2018:,Logo,Of,Department,Of

AIJAC response to visa announcement

Nov 22, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

Image: X/ Twitter

“I went through hell”: What the released hostages say about their captivity

Image: X/ Twitter screenshot

AIJAC deeply disappointed by dropping of investigation into Sydney hate-speech clerics

Image: Shutterstock

The conflict between Israel and Hamas will continue to divide us, unless we risk face-to-face discussion

Section 93Z of the NSW Crimes Act 1900

AIJAC welcomes the passage of improved NSW race hate laws

Pro-Palestinian protestors waiting in the lobby for the Israeli families of those murdered or taken hostage by Hamas

AIJAC questions handling of pro-Palestinian protestors ambushing visiting families of Israeli murder victims and hostages

Image: X/ Twitter

“I went through hell”: What the released hostages say about their captivity

Image: X/ Twitter screenshot

AIJAC deeply disappointed by dropping of investigation into Sydney hate-speech clerics

Image: Shutterstock

The conflict between Israel and Hamas will continue to divide us, unless we risk face-to-face discussion

Section 93Z of the NSW Crimes Act 1900

AIJAC welcomes the passage of improved NSW race hate laws

Pro-Palestinian protestors waiting in the lobby for the Israeli families of those murdered or taken hostage by Hamas

AIJAC questions handling of pro-Palestinian protestors ambushing visiting families of Israeli murder victims and hostages

SORT BY TOPICS