STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE

University of Sydney


Dr Michael Spence
Vice-Chancellor and Principal
A14 - Quadrangle
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia
20 March 2015
Dear Dr Spence,
I am writing in response to your recent student announcement regarding anti-Semitism on
campus.
Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Sydney condemns any expression of
racial prejudice, including anti-Semitism. This policy is reflected in our Constitution, and has
been reaffirmed regularly, including in our introductory email to members at the start of the
semester, in which I wrote: Please be aware that we are unequivocally opposed to any
expression of anti-Semitism and any member of SJP who violates this principle will have
their membership immediately suspended.
We pride ourselves on our commitment to humanitarian ideals and we welcome students
from all backgrounds who oppose the apartheid system imposed on the people of occupied
Palestine.
It is concerning that your announcement fails to mention the aggression and racism suffered
by Palestinian students and supporters on this campus.
Before the lecture had commenced, I was harassed by an attendee who insisted that the
Palestinians were a fictional people. This incident was captured on film. As the grandson of
Palestinian refugees who fled their ancestral homes in 1948, I find this deeply offensive and
extraordinarily racist. Do you condone this expression of prejudice?
During the protest, as a passive observer, I was assaulted by a woman who threw the contents
of a water bottle at me as I stood to record the event. Again, this was captured on film. Do
you condone this unprovoked act of aggression?
Moreover, I draw your attention to a remark made by Richard Kemp on Twitter recently, in
which he stated, After Mohammad, 'Hitler' and 'Adolf' became the second most popular
baby names in the Arab world." Mr Kemp slandered an entire race of people by claiming that
all Arabs are Nazi sympathisers. Does the University believe that people who harbour deeply
racist views should be welcomed into our community?
As you may be aware, multiple human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International,
and even groups within Israel, like BTselem, have concluded that Israel committed war

crimes during last years military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Members of SJP, some of
whom have lost family members in Israeli airstrikes, engaged in a peaceful speak-out at the
lecture precisely because Mr Kemp was attempting, as he has done in the past, to justify war
crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.
Dr. Spence, your belief that even the most contentious topics can be debated in a way that
shows tolerance and respect is at odds with the Universitys record on freedom of
expression. Specifically, I refer to your contentious attempt to exclude the Dalai Lama from
speaking on campus in June 2013, and your decision to ban Uthman Badar from speaking at
Islamic Awareness Week last year. I must be entirely clear in no way do I support Hizb utTahrir, but it is somewhat insincere for you to endorse unrestricted expression and then bar
speakers from campus because their views are too extreme or threaten the Universitys
financial interests.
Is it not a contradiction for the University to ban a speaker that attempts to justify honour
killings, while welcoming a speaker that attempts to justify crimes of war?
Peaceful protest, I remind you, is an aspect of freedom of expression. There is ample
evidence to suggest that while students engaged in the speak-out were entirely peaceful, the
actions of many lecture attendees were aggressive, racist, and violent.
I also remind you that the Jewish community is by no means monolithic; there is a significant
movement of Jews who are opposed to the brutal military occupation of Palestine, many of
whom are members of SJP. In fact, one of our Jewish members was recently quoted in an SJP
press release, contesting the idea that the protesters or their actions were anti-Semitic: Many
right-wing pro-Israel groups and individuals perpetuate the absurd notion that any criticism
of Israel is a form of anti-Semitism, which undermines attempts to combat real anti-Semitism
in some elements of pro-Palestinian campaigns and in society more generally.
Professor Suzanne Rutland condemned one of the chants used at the protest as anti-Semitic in
saying that "'Free Palestine' [...] means genocide against Israel's Jewish population." Is it now
anti-Semitic to suggest that the Palestinian territories should be free from occupation? Will
the University now ban students from saying Free Palestine? While multiple groups have
painted the protest as an infringement on freedom of expression, I wonder at the fact that
these same groups are calling for restrictions on legitimate expression by denouncing all
things that they do not agree with as anti-Semitic.
I request that you release the terms of reference for the investigation you have commissioned
immediately, in the interests of transparency and accountability.
I also encourage you to review all the evidence available to you before you come to a
conclusion, and take into account the anti-Arab racism and violence directed at Palestinian
students and solidarity activists on this campus.
Yours sincerely,
Fahad S. Ali
BMedSc/MD II
President, Students for Justice in Palestine