Jewish Society Established, Anti-Zionist Lecturer Suspended at Essex University

The University of Essex announced on Feb. 22 that a Jewish Society on campus has officially been established and they are suspending a lecturer who advocated against the society because of “Zionists.”

On Feb. 21, the Journal reported that 36 percent of students – which equates to more than 200 students – at Essex voted against the society’s creation in an online poll. The Essex Students’ Union had said that there was going to be a do-over with the vote because of an “irregularity”; on Feb. 22, the University of Essex’s Student Union Sabbatical Officer team announced that they had decided “to immediately ratify the Jewish Society.”

“We publicly recognize the value of a Jewish Society and are proud to announce that the University of Essex Jewish Society is now established with immediate effect,” the union said in a statement.

According to the UK Guardian, Dr. Maaruf Ali, a computer and electronics lecturer, has been suspended by the university for writing on Facebook that the Jewish Society shouldn’t be ratified because “the Zionists want to create a society here at our university.”

Vice Chancellor Anthony Forster said in a statement that he was engulfed in “great sadness” about the university “being associated with anti-Semitism.”

“Anti-Semitism is antithetical to the values of the University of Essex and has no place at our university,” Forster said. “We have a zero tolerance approach to harassment and hate crime which is at the very core of our values and beliefs. We are proud to subscribe to the working definition of anti-Semitism produced by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.”

"Antisemitism is antithetical to the values of the University of Essex and has no place at our University." Our Vice-Chancellor makes our position clear on antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/1KgVPADerS

— University of Essex (@Uni_of_Essex) February 22, 2019

The Union of Jewish Students said in a statement, “There is certainly still a long way to go until anti-Semitism is eradicated from university campuses, but we are heartened that these steps will make a significant impact on improving the lives of Jewish students at the University of Essex.”

UJS statement in response to actions announced by the University of Essex Vice-Chancellor. pic.twitter.com/ZBHhL5HUeM

— Union of Jewish Students (@UJS_UK) February 22, 2019