Four of the world’s leading Middle East studies associations have expressed grave concern over the decision to cancel an academic conference on Palestine, which was scheduled to be held at the Collège de France in Paris on 13 and 14 November, jointly organised by the institute’s Chair of Contemporary History of the Arab World and the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies.

Palestine conference cancelled

In a joint letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron, Minister of Education Philippe Batiste, and President of the Collège de France Thomas Romer, the organisations called for the decision to be reconsidered, for a formal apology to be issued to the organisers and participants, and for the conference to be allowed to go ahead as planned.

The letter was signed by the:

• German Association for Middle East Studies (DAVO)
• British Association for Middle East Studies (BRISMES)
• Italian Association for Middle East Studies (SeSaMO)
• Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA)

An attack on the integrity of researchers

In their letter, the associations affirmed their unwavering support for freedom of scientific research and academic expression, explaining that the conference, entitled ‘Palestine and Europe: The Weight of the Past and Contemporary Dynamics,’ aimed to examine the place of the Palestinian issue in current European political and scientific contexts.

The letter said that the cancellation of the conference following political pressure and misleading comments on social media was ‘deeply troubling,’ noting that questioning the legitimacy of an academic event constituted an unjustified attack on the integrity of the researchers participating in it.

It added that ‘distorting academic work and describing it as biased undermines the principles of historical and social research,’ stressing that scientific debate should be resolved within academic circles and not through political interference.

Violation of academic freedom and freedom of expression

The associations pointed out that national and international laws oblige France to protect academic freedoms, citing Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as well as Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression and includes freedom of research and teaching.

The associations warned that cancelling the conference constituted a serious violation of these obligations and set a dangerous precedent that could open the door to political interference in determining the issues that universities are allowed to research.

A threat to pluralism and a weakening of critical research

The letter considered that this interference threatens intellectual pluralism and undermines critical research, and carries the risk of encouraging further attacks on academic freedom in France and beyond.

The associations also expressed concern about the use of the concepts of ‘scientific’ and ‘academic neutrality’ to justify restrictions on research activities, stressing that cancelling a seminar at a prestigious institution such as the Collège de France sends a negative message to the international scientific community.

At the end of their letter, the associations called on the Ministry of Education and the administration of the Collège de France to rectify the mistake by issuing a public apology to the organisers and participants, allowing the conference to take place, and renewing their commitment to free and open scientific debate.

They also called for the protection of professors and students from political and media pressure that affects their academic freedom and personal safety.

Palestine: the issue will not go away

On 10 November, the Collège de France administration announced the cancellation of the conference, claiming that it contained ‘biased and antisemitic content’ and asserting that the decision was made in accordance with its commitment to ‘neutrality in political issues.’

The cancellation came after an article in the French newspaper Le Point and direct pressure from Higher Education Minister Philippe Batiste, who considered the conference to be ‘political interference in scientific research.’

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

This post was originally published on Canary.