Letter to Sheffield Hallam University regarding Shahd Abusalama

The BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom has written to Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, to express our concerns regarding the investigation of Shahd Abusalama and cancellation of the class she was scheduled to teach. We call on the university to:

1. "immediately inform Ms Abusalama of any accusations against her; of the evidence of any such accusations; and give her the right in consultation with her union to respond to those accusations;
2. to uphold Ms Abusalama’s right to freedom of expression such as it is guaranteed under the law, particularly when it comes to speaking about her experiences as a Palestinian refugee from Gaza;
3. to publicly apologise to Ms Abusalama for the breach of confidentiality committed against her when the university informed the media of an investigation into her social media posts;
4. to revoke the decision to cancel the class she teaches;
5. to uphold its duty of care towards Ms Abusalama both as a student and member of staff at Sheffield Hallam University;
6. to rescind the use of the IRHA definition of antisemitism as a tool in complaints and disciplinary procedures."