Campus Watch reports the following from January 10-17, 2020:
Middle East Studies in the News
The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) cancels a book talk by San Diego State U’s Ahmet Kuru, due to his criticism of Turkish President Erdoğan: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60301/iiit-cancels-book-talk-due-to-author-article-in
Huron U. College’s Ingrid Mattson launches a three-day research conference in Chicago focused on sexual abuse by Islamic religious figures (incl. Tariq Ramadan): https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60291/a-long-time-coming-these-muslims-are-bringing-sex
Ottawa university lecturer Hassan Diab is suing the Canadian government over its role in a French terrorism investigation that fell apart: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60300/hassan-diab-and-family-suing-federal-government
Israel Academia Monitor’s Dana Barnett on two pro-BDS Tel Aviv U. profs (incl. the Duke/UNC/Title VI investigation and the Middle East Studies Association): https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60305/they-support-bds-and-promote-draft-resistance-is
On a Baltic lecture tour by the Christians In Need Foundation that included Clark U’s Taner Akçam: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60293/christians-in-need-vice-president-on-lecture-tour
California Jewish leaders met with state education officials to discuss revising an anti-Israel high school ethnic studies curriculum: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60306/jewish-leaders-get-their-say-on-controversial
CAMERA Fellow Justine Murray on academic associations and BDS (incl. Syracuse U’s Miriam Elman, Middle East studies): https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60281/the-hypocrisy-of-those-who-seek-to-boycott-israel
Students Supporting Israel hosts a conference at Columbia U. to help students defend Israel effectively (incl. Hamid Dabashi): https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60276/pro-israel-students-at-conference-gain-knowledge
On a student filing an antisemitism compliant with the DoE against Columbia U. based, in part, on a lecture by anti-Israel prof Joseph Massad: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60287/this-student-is-taking-on-columbia-in-first-test
Rhodes College’s Yasir Qadhi jumps into Indian/Kashmir politics based on his interview with Indian Muslim televangelist Zakir Naik: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60280/zakir-naik-reveals-modi-shah-offered-him-safe
Middle East studies profs on the US air strike against Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and its aftermath, including Iran shooting down a Ukrainian airplane:
Los Angeles Times (letters to the editor critiquing Columbia U. prof Rashid Khalidi’s op-ed on the subject): https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60282/letters-to-the-editor-us-hostility-doesnt-explain
PolitiFact (incl. U. of Michigan’s Juan Cole): https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60292/iran-man-in-iraq-soleimani-deadly-fight-against
Anadolu Agency (Turkey) (incl. MIT’s Pouya Alimagham): https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60290/plane-tragedy-enrages-iran-protesters-incl-pouya
Grand Valley Lanthorn (Grand Valley State University) (incl. Gamal Gasim): https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60295/gv-students-explore-misinformation-memes-after
On the DoE accepting an antisemitism complaint against UCLA that names SFSU prof Rabab Abdulhadi:
The Washington Times: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60279/trump-administration-follows-anti-semitism
One News Now: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60294/jewish-group-asks-dept-of-ed-to-investigate
Moonlighting
The Washington Times on a lawsuit that includes UC Riverside prof Reza Aslan’s “punchable face’ tweet, and accuses other commentators and celebrities of making “false and defamatory accusations” against Covington High School student Nick Sandmann: https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/60296/ex-cnn-host-likely-to-be-sued-over-now-deleted
