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University of Essex academic dismissed after speaking out against setting up Jewish society

Dr Maaruf Ali also shared material promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and questioning the Holocaust on Facebook

May 29, 2019 09:04
University of Essex student's union
1 min read

The University of Essex has dismissed an academic who spoke out against a campus Jewish society and shared material questioning the Holocaust.

Dr Maaruf Ali, a lecturer in computers and electronics, wrote that “the Zionists next want to create a society here at our university” on a Facebook page for new students, as voting was underway on whether a Jsoc should be founded.

The voting prompted a public outcry when it merged more than 200 students, 36 per cent of those who cast ballots, voted no. The student union cancelled the vote and pledged the immediate creation of a Jsoc on campus.

At the time, the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) called for an investigation into Dr Ali and the university confirmed an investigation would take place.