University of Aberdeen Rejects IHRA definition of antisemitism
Scottish PSC, 9 October 2022
After extensive consultation taking place during 2021 and 2022 with a range of parties, the Senatus Academicus of the University of Aberdeen has rejected the infamous ‘IHRA definition of Antisemitism’ in favour of the Jerusalem Declaration of Antisemitism (JDA). This decision was upheld by the Court of the University of Aberdeen, thereby sanctioning the formal adoption of the JDA declaration by the University of Aberdeen. The decision was supported by the Aberdeen Jewish Student Society who had urged the University to formally adopt a definition of antisemitism.
The misuse of the IHRA definition has been acknowledged by Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN Gilad Erdan when he was a Minister in the Knesset. The author of the IHRA definition himself, Professor Kenneth Stern, has condemned its misuse and has made strong representation against it being adopted by universities, as have Palestinian academics and journalists and organisations representing Jewish communities. Closer to home, Baroness Falkner, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, in a House of Lords debate on anti-Semitism stated that the IHRA definition is “extremely poorly worded and probably unactionable in law,” and “directly conflicts with the duty on universities to protect free speech”.
Despite the obvious intentions of the IHRA definition, several UK political parties, civil society institutions and universities conceded to the Zionist political pressure to adopt this definition with dire consequences for many. For example, the IHRA definition played a critical role in the dismissal of Professor David Miller of the University of Bristol. More detail regarding the denigrating campaign that led to Prof Miller’s sacking can be found at this website. However, this is just one of the many examples worldwide of defamatory antisemitism smears orchestrated by the Zionist lobby to damage human rights campaigners and people of conscience who have called out Israel’s crimes against humanity.
Professor David Anderson, chair in Anthropology the University of Aberdeen said: “I am so relieved that the Senate did not rubber-stamp the management proposal to introduce the IHRA definition. We all stand firm against antisemitism and injustice. The fact that parts of the definition define antisemitism as any critique of the state of Israel posed a real threat to my teaching. In my module on Indigenous Rights I sometimes ask the students to think through the situation of Palestinians in comparison to those suffering oppression from settler states around the world. Even an exercise like this, where there could be arguments for and against would likely be prosecuted under this law. Definitions like this have no place in a university. They stifle creativity and debate”
Today we commend the University of Aberdeen for opposing this trend. By rejecting the IHRA definition in favour of the JDA, they have sent a clear message and opposed the undermining of academic freedom to expose human rights abuses. We urge all the institutions and organisations who have adopted the ‘IHRA definition’ to review their stance and reject this shameful political attempt to undermine the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel and criminalise those who advocate for Palestinian rights!
More information
Jerusalem Definition of Antisemitism: The JDA declaration was developed by scholars of antisemitism/holocaust studies and released in March 2021 in response to the “the IHRA Definition”. The need for an alternative tool to the IHRA definition arose after the extensive misuse of this definition to undermine challenges to the state of Israel's breaches of Palestinians' human rights.
University of Aberdeen and the IHRA definition - SPSC Aberdeen statement — SPSC Aberdeen
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