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 sign this petition. 

 

Professor Hugh Brady
Vice-Chancellor and President
University of Bristol
11 October 2021

 

Re: Dismissal of Professor David Miller

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.

cc:

Professor Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost

Professor Sarah Purdy, Pro Vice-Chancellor, (Student Experience) 

Professor Philip Taylor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, (Research & Enterprise)

Professor John Iredale, Pro Vice-Chancellor

Professor Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor

Mr Jack Boyer, Chair, Board of Trustees 

 

Yours sincerely,

  1. Massoud Shadjareh, Chair, Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
  2. Daud Abdullah, Middle East Monitor (MEMO)
  3. Samir Al-Haidari, Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission (AIM)
  4. Abbas Ali, Inminds Human Rights Group
  5. Azad Ali, Operations Director, CAGE
  6. Robert Andrews, EuroPal Forum
  7. Professor Hatem Bazian, University of California, Berkeley
  8. Zaher Birawi, Chairman, Palestinian Forum in Britain
  9. Professor Hagit Borer, Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), QMUL
  10. Professor Haim Bresheeth, SOAS University of London
  11. Jonathan Boud, Harrow Law Centre
  12. Sara Callaway, Women of Colour, Global Women’s Strike
  13. David Cannon, Jewish Network for Palestine (JNP)
  14. Rabbi Ahron Cohen, Neturei Karta
  15. Abbas Edalat, CASMII
  16. Prof Ramón Grosfoguel – University of California, Berkeley
  17. Richard Haley, Chair, SACC
  18. Ibrahim Hewitt, Senior Editor, Middle East Monitor (MEMO)
  19. Sandew Hira, Decolonial International Network (DIN)
  20. Ahammed Hussain, CEO, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK
  21. Selma James, International Jewish Anti Zionist Network UK
  22. Dr. Olsi Jazexhiu, Assistant professor, international Islamic University, Malaysia
  23. Mohideen Abdul Kader, Citizens International, Malaysia
  24. Michael Kalmanovit, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK
  25. Raza Kazim, Middlesex University
  26. Dr Les Levidow, Senior Research Fellow, Open University
  27. Yasser Louati, President, Committee for Justice & Liberties, Paris, France
  28. Ilana Machover, The London Support Group of Israeli Conscience Objectors
  29. Gareth Murphy, Branch Secretary, Unite Community Camden LE/00018
  30. Mick Napier, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
  31. Professor Ilan Pappe, Director of the European Center for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter
  32. Ismail Patel, Frends of Al,Aqsa
  33. Roshan Salih, 5Pillars
  34. John Tymon, Football Against Apartheid
  35. Imam Dawud Walid, Islamic researcher and author
  36. Sam Weinstein, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK

(NOTE: CAGE represents cases of individuals based on the remit of our work. Supporting a case does not mean we agree with the views or actions of the individual. Content published on CAGE may not reflect the official position of our organisation.)