Accused terrorist Hassan Diab’s tenure at Carleton University didn’t last long.
On the same day Jewish human rights groups condemned the university for hiring Diab— who faces an extradition hearing related to the 1980 bombing of a Paris synagogue — Carleton announced Diab has been relieved of his teaching duties.
Yesterday, B’Nai Brith Canada issued a statement saying the Jewish human rights watchdog was “deeply disturbed” by the hiring of Diab.
On Monday, the university issued a terse statement confirming Diab was hired to teach an introductory sociology course this summer, replacing another instructor who took an “unforeseen leave.”
Carleton then announced the university had replaced Diab “in the interest of providing its students with a stable, productive academic environment that is conducive to learning.”
Diab, 55, has taught a similar course at Carleton and the University of Ottawa in the past, but the U of O didn’t renew his contract following his 2008 arrest.
Frank Dimant, B’Nai Brith Canada’s executive vice president, said it is “deplorable” that the university found nothing wrong with hiring Diab in the first place.
“The conditions of Diab’s bail do not even allow him to leave his home alone or to own a cell phone, but Carleton officials believe that it is fine for them to make him a member of their faculty? The last place in the world where this man belongs is in a university classroom, in front of impressionable students,” said Dimant.
Len Radner, Ontario regional director of the Canadian Jewish Congress, called Diab’s hiring “questionable,” suggesting both Diab and his students would be distracted from their responsibilities while controversy surrounds the classroom.
“Could the university find no one else to teach an introductory sociology course other than Mr. Diab?” said Radner. “He has been charged, but not found guilty of this crime, but that being said, it’s hard to imagine allegations more serious than this.”
Radner said “the university has a responsibility” to explain the reasons behind Diab’s hiring.
“Reasonable citizens may wonder what the university was possessed by when they made this decision,” said Radner.
aedan.helmer@sunmedia.ca
— with files from Terri Saunders
DIAB FACTS:
- Hassan Diab is a joint Canadian and Lebanese citizen born in Beirut in 1953
- He is accused of masterminding the 1980 bombing of a Paris synagogue.
- He faces four counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder in France.
- He was arrested in Ottawa on Nov. 13 last year.
- He is out on bail during his extradition hearing.
- He must wear a GPS ankle bracelet and is not allowed to leave his residence unless he is accompanied by one of five court-approved sureties, who posted a combined $285,000 bail.
- An exemption was granted for Diab to attend the university unaccompanied.
- Judge Robert Maranger ruled Tuesday that Diab will be allowed to dispute evidence seized during an RCMP raid, including files from two home computers, that might be disclosed to French officials.
