Unions quit Goldsmiths antisemitism probe over ‘lack of fairness’

Nine organisations have pulled out of Goldsmiths, University of London’s investigation into antisemitism, claiming a “loss of confidence” in the inquiry. 

The groups, which include the Goldsmiths Students Union, Goldsmiths University and College Union executive, and the Muslim Association of Britain, complained that there was “a lack of transparency as to who and what is being investigated”. 

The investigation was launched in May 2023 to examine allegations of antisemitism at the university, but the departing groups said that Goldsmiths had failed to address how “unfounded accusations of antisemitism are used to silence Palestinian voices and those who stand with them”, particular during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. As early as May 2024 the costs of the inquiry were reported to have exceeded £128,000.

“We refuse to engage with an inquiry that marginalises Palestinians and adopts an approach which discriminates against them, and appears to target those who criticise Israeli policies and Zionism,” the groups write in an open letter.

“Antisemitism is a scourge on our society, as are all forms of racism. [But] antisemitism is part of a larger context of this racism, and we should not fight one form of this oppression whilst also failing to see and understand another.”

The groups claim that the inquiry, led by Mohinderpal Sethi KC, had failed to establish whether it was applying the contested International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which critics claim prevents impedes academic freedom by conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. The letter further claims the institution has failed to inform those interviewed “what, if any, allegations have been made against them”.

“We initially engaged with this inquiry in good faith, despite our misgivings about the circumstances in which it was instituted…Our attempts to engage with the inquiry have been met with responses which are both incoherent and apathetic to the international climate of rampant anti-Palestinian repression,” they write.

Goldsmiths was recently forced to apologise to a theatre lecturer, Ray Campbell, after it suspended him for five months over allegations of antisemitic postings on social media which were eventually ruled to be unfounded.

A university spokesperson told Times Higher Education: “The independent inquiry is concluding with a report of its findings to be published in due course.”

Ed Nedjari, chief executive of Goldsmiths Students Union, said that while it was “crucial” to address the rise of antisemitism, this “must not violate the rights of other marginalised groups”. 

“The growing list of concerns, including the lack of transparency and questionable decisions made by the inquiry, has eroded any remaining confidence in its fairness and impartiality, ultimately leading to our decision to withdraw our support and participation,” he said.

“We cannot, in good faith, support this inquiry while it advances without proper regard for the fundamental principles of equality and justice.”

Lewis Turner, chair of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies’ committee on academic freedom, said it was “deeply concerned that [the Goldsmiths] inquiry threatens freedom of expression and academic freedom on the question of Palestine, which have been under sustained attack on UK campuses”. 

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com