CAGE signs letter to Bristol University protesting against Professor David Miller's dismissal

<strong>Below is the full text of a letter, which CAGE is a signatory of, submitted to Bristol University to protest against the dismissal of Professor David Miller. David Miller has been a long standing campaigner against Islamophobia and a supporter of Palestine. His dismissal comes after concerted campaigns against David Miller by pro-zionist groups. To support Prof David Miller, please <a href="https://www.change.org/p/bristol-university-give-professor-david-miller-his-job-back">sign this petition</a>. </strong> &nbsp; Professor Hugh Brady Vice-Chancellor and President University of Bristol 11 October 2021 &nbsp; <strong>Re: Dismissal of Professor David Miller</strong> Dear Professor Brady, We, the undersigned, are writing to protest in the strongest possible terms your decision to sack Prof David Miller. Prof Miller’s dismissal followed a concerted campaign by the pro-Israeli groups against him for his impeccable research in the areas of Islamophobia and Palestine and the Israel lobby. We are appalled by the fact that although Prof Miller was cleared of the charge of anti-Semitism laid against him by pro-Israel organisations, your institution elected to dismiss him anyway on the grounds that he did not respect contrary views being criticised. In other words, his comments offended some of those whom his work identifies as racists, upholders of an apartheid regime and perpetrators of systematic oppression. In firing Prof Miller, you have chosen to take sides with a foreign state that has left no stone unturned in its determination to silence voices that criticise its abominable racist behaviour at home and in the international arena. This is evident from the fact that you have given credence to complaints from the forces ranged against Prof Miller (inter alia Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Zionist Federation, the Jewish Labour Movement and the Community Security Trust) all of whom are apologists for the Israeli state. The dismissal is also an affront to the right of Prof Miller, and the wider university population, to freedom of speech, a principle that is held even more sacred in academic settings and without which intellectual enquiry cannot properly take place. Censuring academics because their views offend people on the opposing side of the debate sets a dangerous precedent for universities that cannot be allowed to stand. The upshot of your decision is that Bristol University is no longer a safe space for Muslim, Arab and Palestinian students, and staff. Likewise, all those who criticise the Israeli state and its apologists as racist. None of these groups can now expect to express critical views on Israel without fear of reproach. We hereby serve notice that unless Prof Miller is reinstated, we intend to bring the full force of civil society and public opinion to bear on your institution for as long as it takes to redress this injustice. This will include persuading national and international students and academics to boycott Bristol University because it cannot be relied upon to guarantee freedom of expression for racial and religious minorities, as well as political dissent which offends its targets. <em>cc:</em> <em>Professor Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost</em> <em>Professor Sarah Purdy, Pro Vice-Chancellor, (Student Experience) </em> <em>Professor Philip Taylor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, (Research &amp; Enterprise)</em> <em>Professor John Iredale, Pro Vice-Chancellor</em> <em>Professor Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor</em> <em>Mr Jack Boyer, Chair, Board of Trustees </em> &nbsp; Yours sincerely, <ol> <li>Massoud Shadjareh, Chair, Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC)</li> <li>Daud Abdullah, Middle East Monitor (MEMO)</li> <li>Samir Al-Haidari, Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission (AIM)</li> <li>Abbas Ali, Inminds Human Rights Group</li> <li>Azad Ali, Operations Director, CAGE</li> <li>Robert Andrews, EuroPal Forum</li> <li>Professor Hatem Bazian, University of California, Berkeley</li> <li>Zaher Birawi, Chairman, Palestinian Forum in Britain</li> <li>Professor Hagit Borer, Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), QMUL</li> <li>Professor Haim Bresheeth, SOAS University of London</li> <li>Jonathan Boud, Harrow Law Centre</li> <li>Sara Callaway, Women of Colour, Global Women’s Strike</li> <li>David Cannon, Jewish Network for Palestine (JNP)</li> <li>Rabbi Ahron Cohen, Neturei Karta</li> <li>Abbas Edalat, CASMII</li> <li>Prof Ramón Grosfoguel – University of California, Berkeley</li> <li>Richard Haley, Chair, SACC</li> <li>Ibrahim Hewitt, Senior Editor, Middle East Monitor (MEMO)</li> <li>Sandew Hira, Decolonial International Network (DIN)</li> <li>Ahammed Hussain, CEO, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK</li> <li>Selma James, International Jewish Anti Zionist Network UK</li> <li>Dr. Olsi Jazexhiu, Assistant professor, international Islamic University, Malaysia</li> <li>Mohideen Abdul Kader, Citizens International, Malaysia</li> <li>Michael Kalmanovit, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK</li> <li>Raza Kazim, Middlesex University</li> <li>Dr Les Levidow, Senior Research Fellow, Open University</li> <li>Yasser Louati, President, Committee for Justice &amp; Liberties, Paris, France</li> <li>Ilana Machover, The London Support Group of Israeli Conscience Objectors</li> <li>Gareth Murphy, Branch Secretary, Unite Community Camden LE/00018</li> <li>Mick Napier, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign</li> <li>Professor Ilan Pappe, Director of the European Center for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter</li> <li>Ismail Patel, Frends of Al,Aqsa</li> <li>Roshan Salih, 5Pillars</li> <li>John Tymon, Football Against Apartheid</li> <li>Imam Dawud Walid, Islamic researcher and author</li> <li>Sam Weinstein, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK</li> </ol>