[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [Resist_Wits2001] Israel/ Palestine: Students expelled at
Haifa University
Al Kagan
akagan at uiuc.edu
Wed Oct 31 09:31:46 CST 2001
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>Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 16:44:38 +0200
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>Subject: [Resist_Wits2001] Israel/ Palestine: Students expelled at
>Haifa University
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>>
>> Dear Comrades & Friends,
>>
>> I am sorry to bother you in these days, while people are killed by the
>> dozens, but there is a
>> new story with a personal aspect for me...
>>
>> Yesterday (31.10.01) about 10 Arab students from the university of Haifa
>> (me included, as well
>> as the head of the Arab students committee - Ahmed 'Abed elKhalek, and
>> Raja Za'atra, the
>> former chairperson of the national Arab Students Union) were expelled
>> from the university by
>> an administrative order of the university's "security cheif", Mr. Jacob
>> Kita. It is a new procedure
>> adopted by the UoH authorities, where the security chief is both the
>> witness, the prosecutor
>> and the judge. The accuse is not warned and not heard, and has no right
>> to pledge or to
>> appeal. Some of the decrees, like my expulsion, are for an unlimited
>> period. They explicitly
>> prohibit any activity in the university, including learning
>> activity,using the library, etc.
>>
>> Some of the background is detailed in the attached letter...
>>
>> It is important to notice that while the UoH authorities banned any
>> political and social activity
>> in the campus for the first ten days of the academic year, the made a
>> high profile ceremony to
>> commemorate the late Ze'evi, the leader of the Israeli Right that was
>> explicitly agitating for
>> ethnic cleansing and the expulsion of the whole Arab population.
>>
>> We should also note that the UoH is doing a lot of public relation on
>> the merit of "Jewish and
>> Arab Coexistence", while the same authorities are restlessly preventing
>> freedom of
>> expression, discriminate the Arab students in the allocation of
>> dormitories, and persecute
>> Democratic political activists.
>>
>> Please, circulate the attached letter as widely as it makes sense.
>>
>> Bye;
>>
>>
>> The Arab Student Union in Israel
>> The Arab Student Committee-Haifa University
>>
>> Press Release
>> Background:
>>
>> This fall semester Arab students are facing discriminatory policies with
>> Universities that are denying equal access to housing for Arab students.
>> Although Arab students meet all criteria for eligibility, they are being
>> denied housing on a national basis. In an effort to exercise their
>> protest against this policy, Arab students now face further
>> infringements on their basic human rights such as freedom of speech,
>> freedom of protest and the right to housing.
>>
>> Last week on the 24th of October the Arab student committee held a
>> sit-in with the Arab Student Union. They were protesting the decision to
>> deny Arab students placements in dormitories. The Arab Student committee
>> claims that this situation is a direct result of the structural
>> discriminatory attitude, which needs to be changed according to the
>> value of equality and the spirit of it.
>>
>> With the encouragement from the security department from Haifa
>> University a new situation developed which pushed students in further
>> danger of being denied the right to higher education. After protesting
>> this discriminatory policy, two students were given letters on the 28th
> > of October informing them of a mid-decision that suspends their classes
>> for three weeks. This mid-decision, based on the rules of the
>> University, has no appeals process for the students to have an
>> opportunity to speak on their own behalf. Five other students were given
>> letters that forbid them from entering the university or utilizing the
>> facilities. The committee further believes that this decision to expel
>> students is intended as a message to other Arab students about the
>> dangers they will face if they attempt to exercise their freedom of
>> speech or freedom to protest.
>>
>> The Arab Student Union and Committee determined that the possible
>> expulsions which were added to the irrational decision not allowing
>> public activity in the opening of the new academic year shows a hard hit
>> on the freedom of speech, the right of demonstrating, and the right of
>> housing. In addition, the Arab Student Union and Committee accuse a
>> joint conspiracy of security department and other powerful people in the
>> campus as being the masterminds behind most recent assault on human
>> rights. Arab students were marked and targeted based on political
>> activism and other interests.
>>
>> The Hearing:
>> A hearing to decide if the students will be forced to miss three weeks
>> of classes will be held tomorrow, Wednesday the 31st of October at 16:00
>> on the 29th floor in the Tower Building room number 2904. We are calling
>> the public opinion to be present during this critical decision in hopes
>> to end this illegal attitude of the authorities, which includes the
>> silencing of freedom of speech and preventing expression of oppression.
>> When we are shouting, we get punished in a humiliating and public
>> manner. By this they also confiscate our right of learning and studying.
>>
>> For more information:
>> Khulood Badawi: 053899141 khokhai at hotmail.com
>> Ahamed Abd el-Khalik: 05883025
>> Yaser Jubran 051720972
>> Raja Zaatre: 054663857
>> Arabstudentunion_il at yahoo.com
>>
>> If you oppose this racist persecution by the authorities of the
>> university of Haifa, please send your protest to:
>> Prof. Yehuda Hayuth hayuth at uvm.haifa.ac.il President
>> Prof. Aharon Ben Zeev benzeev at research.haifa.ac.il Rector Fax no.
>> 8342101
>> Prof. Aharon Kellerman akeller at research.haifa.ac.il Vice President
>> Fax no. 8343441
>> Ms. Yael Mester metser at research.haifa.ac.ilVice President for Public
>> Relations and Resource Development
>> Prof. Ron Robin r.robin at research.haifa.ac.il Dean of Students Fax no.
>> 8240319
>>
>>
>>
>>
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--
Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA
tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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