Essex University probes lecturer who shared Holocaust denial post
Dr Maaruf Ali's history of controversial online posts is being investigated 'as a matter of urgency' by the university
A lecturer in Essex is being investigated after a torrent of antisemitic posts was discovered this week, including one denying the Holocaust and another appearing to call for Jihad.
Dr Maaruf Ali, computer and electronics lecturer at the University of Essex, also a volunteer for St John Ambulance Service, opposed the creation of a Jewish Society on campus this week.
In a Facebook post, he wrote: “the Zionists next want to create a society here at our university”.
Among the posts discovered, one read: “In all of German-occupied Europe, there resided 2,4 million Jews before the war, according to the World Jewish Encyclopedia.
“After the war, 3.8 million Jewish “Holocaust survivors” were receiving pensions from the German government.
“Tragically, the remaining six million were lost.”
In another post, Dr Ali shared a graphic video and added: “This is what’s happening in Burma. This is why Jihad is allowed.
“A young boy has his hands and feet hacked off by a Buddhist man”.
In another post the lecturer compared the state of Israel to Nazi Germany, writing: “The Zionists-Nazis still have not destroyed Palestine, the Palestinians nor Islam and the Muslims!”
Daniel Kosky, campaign organiser at the Union of Jewish Students said: “The posts shared by Essex lecturer Dr Ali are disgusting. Antisemitism has no place on our campuses, let alone from those teaching in academic institutions.
“ We are taking the comments made by Dr Ali very seriously and expect the strongest possible sanction by the university against a staff member who has engaged in racist hate speech and discrimination.’
Another post read: “Concentration camps of Palestinians set up by Jews in the newly created state of Israel. Those are Palestinians in the picture. What history never teaches”.
A University of Essex spokesman said they were “looking into the allegations as a matter of urgency in accordance with our zero tolerance policy.”
He added: “We expect staff, students and visitors to be treated, and to treat each other, with dignity and respect.
“The ratification process has been a focus for strong debate. As a university, we promote debate and deliberation of controversial issues and, within the limits of the law, encourage students and staff to express views with rigour and conviction.
“Alongside our commitment to freedom of speech, we also have clear guidelines for student and staff conduct and we have zero tolerance towards harassment or hate crime and will always take appropriate and proportionate action.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
