Cleveringa lezing
Reageer (0)The 2010 Cleveringa Lecture, Leiden University, The Netherlands
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem will host the 2010 Cleveringa Lecture on 25th November. It is a yearly event, organised by the oldest university in The Netherlands, Leiden University. The Lecture commemorates the address delivered by Professor Rudolph Pabus Cleveringa at Leiden University on 26th November 1940. In his capacity of Dean of the Faculty of Law, he expressed his indignation on the decision by the German Occupation Forces to remove Jewish professors from the University. Among them was his colleague, E.M. Meijers, who was scheduled to lecture at that very moment. Rudolph Cleveringa is a renowned symbol for the 'bastion of academic freedom' ever since (the motto of the Leiden University 'Praesidum libertatis').
The choice of Jerusalem for conducting the Lecture is explained in the announcement:
"Cleveringa raised his voice right at the onset of the war, notably in regard of the freedom of expression. This is highly appreciated in Israel, all the more as there are still universities abroad trying to boycott Israeli professors and students."
It is widely known by now, however, that considerable energy is devoted in Israel to silence and intimidate 'dissidents' at its universities. Those quarters of Jewish-Israeli academia, trying to expose the worst excesses of official racism and the crudest forms of violence by the army and the police against the defenceless Palestinian population, find themselves in a desperate position.
Richard Goldstone, who was commissioned to investigate the conduct of Israel and Hamas during the Israel Defence Forces Operation Cast Lead by the United Nations Human Rights Council, was honorary Governor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Contrary to University policies, he was removed from this position as a result. His removal is the mirror image of the fate of Professor E.M. Meyers and many other Jewish academics in 1940. It is all the more regrettable that notably Leiden University ignores this notorious decision.
All that Rudolph Cleveringa defended, is presently under severe threat in Israel. It is just unacceptable that, in this context, his name is being abused. We call on all scientists, at home and abroad, to lodge their protest with the Rector Magnificus of Leiden University, Prof. Paul F. van der Heijden.
He can be reached by mail: PO Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. His email address is pf.vanderheijden@cvb.leidenuniv.nl
Pass this on, please. Ask friends and colleagues to join us!
Please, copy your message to me for information: jjwijenberg@gmail.com
Thank you for joining us.
Jan Wijenbergformer ambassador for The Netherlands
and
spokesman for the campaign
