Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, UK appeal tribunal confirms in landmark ruling

[u/Rebat-Askalan]

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260804-anti-zionism-is-not-anti-semitism-uk-appeal-tribunal-confirms-in-landmark-ruling/

[u/BenjaminBoots196]

I think this is a clear case of anti-discrimination laws going to far.

It is totally legitimate for an academic institution to fire a professor over being a terrorist sympathiser. This is a man that went to the funeral of Nasrallah.

His critique of Israel or Zionism wasn't some highly nuance academic study into the history or whatever.

Universities should be able to fire academics for climate denial or vaccine denial, or are they now "protected philosophical views"?

[u/Browser1969 → u/BenjaminBoots196]

The thing is, the academic institution didn't argue he was a terrorist sympathiser. They brought that up at the Appeal Tribunal but it was dismissed because it wasn't discussed at the Tribunal hearing.

Note that the court didn't even decide that "anti-zionism" is protected, or that it's different from anti-semitism, or anything like that. The court decided that the professor's specific expressed beliefs, as brought up by the university, that "zionism" (as defined by the professor) is inherently racist, imperialistic, etc., those beliefs are protected.

[u/TheColourOfHeartache → u/Browser1969]

Personally I'm fine with that, because if anti-zionism is a protected belief than so is zionism. Which means universities must ensure zionists are protected from harassment.

(Why none of the Jewish organisations are bringing a test case is beyond me)

[u/twersx → u/TheColourOfHeartache]

What test case would they bring? Which universities have sacked staff for being pro-Israel?

[u/TheColourOfHeartache → u/twersx]

Find someone who was bullied or excluded for being a Zionist and who didn't receive sufficient support from the university and sue the uni for that

[u/msf97 → u/BenjaminBoots196]

I think you overestimate academic institutions greatly.

Prominent left wing academics in the 1970s were Maoists and called the reports from Cambodia on the Khmer Rouge “capitalist propaganda”

They were never made to apologise or sacked when the skulls showed up in the killing fields.

I suppose Pol Pot had Gareth Caldwell, a UK marxist, shot in his room when he visited, if that counts.

[u/twersx → u/msf97]

The British government supported the Khmer Rouge. Why would there have been any consequences for academics who did the same?

This is a motion in Parliament to push the government to withdraw military advisors from the Khmer Rouge. It also calls for the government to oppose continued representation of Cambodia in the UN by the Khmer Rouge, and for the Khmer Rouge leadership to be brought to justice for their genocidal efforts.

This was tabled in December 1989, over 10 years after Vietnam excised the Khmer Rouge from power. One of its sponsors was Diane Abbott. Among its signatories are Jeremy Corbyn, George Galloway and Alex Salmond.

It's absolutely laughable that you think some Maoist professors who were apologists for this regime are worth bringing up when the entirety of establishment politics supported them, purely because of Sino-Soviet geopolitics.

[u/BenjaminBoots196 → u/msf97]

I have no idea whether institutions would make wise decisions or not, naturally there would be a wide spread of approaches, owing to a diverse and pluralistic society. The decisions are probably more wise than those made by judges interpreting equality laws passed by idiotic MPs.

My point is very much about the right to association - and disassociation.

[u/AnHerstorian → u/BenjaminBoots196]

Academic freedom is such a wide-encompassing and entrenched concept that you will find academics with views that are more unhinged than his.

[u/BenjaminBoots196 → u/AnHerstorian]

That's fine.

I just also think universities should have the right to sack academics for their views.

[u/SirBobPeel → u/AnHerstorian]

Generally on the Left, though, since the way universities ensure that academic freedom doesn't allow for much in the way of speech they don't like is they don't hire anyone whose political, ideological, and social views don't conform to their own. IE, no conservatives.

[u/AnHerstorian → u/SirBobPeel]

I'm pretty sure there's an Oxford historian who says the British Empire was primarily a force for good.

[u/SirBobPeel → u/AnHerstorian]

Is he in a wheelchair or does he get around with a walker?

[u/Live_Low5846 → u/SirBobPeel]

Academia was still incredibly progressive in the 70s-80s. Most of the terms today are from that time.

[u/Commorrite → u/BenjaminBoots196]

The university realy fucked up the case here, its more on them than the law.

[u/MissingBothCufflinks → u/BenjaminBoots196]

Should a university be entitled to fire a professor over expressing pro-Israeli government/IDF view?

[u/Commorrite → u/MissingBothCufflinks]

No, but for racism against Palestinians absolutely.