Open Letter to SOAS Director posted by Richard Seymour

A reader has asked me to publish the following letter, which is addressed to the director of SOAS. It discusses the harrassment of a Muslim student who had written an analysis of the ethics of violence, and who rejected the blanket condemnation of Palestinian violence on the grounds that such a position was unreflective about the roots of the Israel/Palestine conflict. For having taken such a position, this student was subjected to a disciplinary investigation. Despite the fact that such questions are on the reading lists for courses at SOAS, this student was not allowed to have his thoughts without being subject to harrassment. At a time when SOAS is being maligned for 'anti-Semitism', it is important to note that the Director cited Noam Chomsky's Voltairean position on freedom of speech to defend the visit of a representative from the Israeli embassy - a principle that clearly doesn't apply when it comes to Muslim students. Here is the letter:

Dear Director,

I would like to respond to your message to the school regarding recent allegations of anti-Semitism, intolerance and intimidation at SOAS. Whilst I understand that you have been put in an almost impossible situation I believe it is very important to distinguish between two different issues. The first kind of issue relates to polarisation of students. It would be surprising if, given the diversity of students at SOAS, there was not polarisation of students around issues of principle and current global political controversies. Indeed it would be rather disappointing if students were not engaged with such controversies at an institution like SOAS. One reason why students are attracted to SOAS is precisely because this is what they expect. A number of students on both the courses that I teach said they came to SOAS because they wanted exposure to such controversies and, at the same time, to have the chance to explore them in greater depth then is possible outside of an academic environment. These students had various political and ideological attitudes to these controversies and conflicts. Obviously many students from various countries with various political traditions are often surprised (and sometimes a little shocked) to be exposed to views and opinions they are unfamiliar with. I think SOAS has always been about surprises and shocks of this kind and that this is part of the unique educational experience the institution offers.

The second kind of issue relates to questions about intimidation and racism. It is vitally important to understand that these questions are quite different and that there is no necessary relationship between them. I have yet to see any convincing evidence at all that there has been any issue of racism or intimidation at SOAS and have to admit that accusations of this kind seem to me mischievous and politically motivated emerging largely from the media and, apparently, the home office. I am therefore a little concerned about what kind of discussion will take place in the proposed ‘workshops’. If these discussions are to be concerned with issues of racial equality one might ask if they are being held for the benefit of students and staff or whether they are being held for the benefit of the Times and possibly the Home Office. If this is so I would suggest this is very unwise and a capitulation to political interference in the internal affairs of the college. If on the other hand there is the thought that political issues raised by the Israeli/Palestine conflict require some kind of special adjudication by the college might I raise a note of caution?

Aside from an impression of a kind of colonial snooping amongst Arab and Muslim students at SOAS, the AUT is about to debate issues connected with academic boycott of Israel (see today’s Education Guardian). Similar debates have been had inside of UNISON. Such debates have stirred up precisely the same controversies in the outside world as they have inside of SOAS. If there is to be some kind of ‘line’ about what position to take on the Israel/Palestine conflict that will satisfy politically both supporters and opponents of Israeli policy this would necessitate having a narrower range of discussion inside SOAS then takes place in the outside world. A large number of students and staff would feel that they were being politically censored and intimidated at the behest of the media and the home office through the agency of college authorities. I would suggest that this would be likely to inflame matters further. I do not think it a good idea to get into games of who is most intimidated by the current situation, however subjecting a student to investigation under the colleges disciplinary code for writing what struck me as a sensitive analysis of the ethics of violence, raises really serious questions about the duty of care this university owes to all its students irrespective of the media and the home office. It also raises substantial issues about academic freedom which I think should be the concern not only of students but also of academics, values which I believe our Director has a duty to represent and protect no matter how politically controversial or unpopular it is to do so. Understanding the difficulties you face I hesitate to add to them.

But for moral reasons I would like to put it on record that I do not believe that Israel as presently constituted is a legitimate state. I would also like to put it on record that I believe that the ethics of condemning violence in anti-colonial struggles are complex and worthy of debate. My views on this subject have been shaped by the years I have been at SOAS and the things that I have been taught here. If this student is to be disciplined for reflecting on what Richard Falk (a prominent academic theorist) has described as the ‘right to violence’ and what Ted Honderich (a prominent analytical philosopher) has described as the ‘right to terrorism’ one might ask why the institutions which these two prominent intellectuals belong to have not disciplined them. One might also ask whether we ought not proscribe books currently on recommended reading lists, and indeed articles sometimes written by academics who work here, which encourage similar reflection.

Most importantly however I believe that if this student is to be subjected to investigation and harassment then so should I and so should many full time academic members of staff at this institution. It is my hope that should this student be disciplined members of staff will similarly step forward and suggest that they be investigated and possibly disciplined. I find myself deeply worried that a student is being intimidated for writing an article, the substance of which is reflected in many published academic tomes, some of which I might even have over the years recommended that my students read (one thinks here in different ways of Fanon, of Falk, of Chomsky, of Said, of Eqbal Ahmad, a whole range of thinkers and writers on Post-Colonial and Colonial politics). Perhaps, indirectly, I am responsible for what this student has written, either because I have taught him personally (I cannot remember) or because he has been taught by colleagues that I know and talk with. I would like this taken into account both in terms of possible culpability on my part and in terms of the charges being faced by this student. Of course this student is in a defenceless position, he is a member of a faith much discriminated against (one suspects if the argument had not been couched in terms of Islamic theology the outcome would have been different: although the student in fact sensitively attempts to universalise the argument) and demonised in this part of the world, and it is quite convenient to off-load the problems of the institution onto his shoulders. But perhaps this is a little unfair, a little irresponsible, perhaps even a little ignoble. I find the silence surrounding the position of this student from staff, from students and from yourself perhaps the most sad and depressing thing about this entire affair, and the victimisation of this student a clear breach of everything SOAS is supposed to represent.

But perhaps members of staff need not worry. Most of them, after all, are not Muslims and as long as they keep their opinions to themselves and do not speak publicly about these matters nothing will happen to them. And perhaps if we sacrifice this student an embarrassing situation will go away, and with a few face saving exercises (workshops!) the press and the home office will get off our backs. A far cry from your recent remarks about Noam Chomsky I must say. And a terrible lesson for students about ethics, responsibility and the values a university is supposed to represent (I am concerned about the Students Union being encouraged down this path and the moral effect on them). Apologies for the tone of this letter but the issues which have been raised are far too important not to be confronted directly.

Sincerely,
John Game
Teaching Assistant
Politics Department.