[Fdu] Open Letter from Canadian Academics re: the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism

Tue Feb 16 15:18:28 EST 2021

Dear Friends,

We are writing to you to *add your name* to the growing list of *525+ 
signatures* on the *Open Letter from Canadian Academics Opposing the 
IHRA Definition* 
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl0MENs2YRjoN39IOJRb8O454Nub9jI9pe8lCi2hMzcoKN3Q/viewform>. 

+ If you can *promote this letter* and *contact individuals* encouraging 
them to sign the letter, this will help.

*Background: *

A major international effort is underway by Israel and lobby groups to 
brand criticism of Israel and Palestine solidarity activism as “the new 
antisemitism”. They are seeking to do this by advocating for the passage 
of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working 
Definition of Antisemitism by all levels of government, as well as by 
institutions like universities and police departments. The IHRA 
definition of antisemitism is a flawed document which equates 
anti-zionism and antisemitism and, if implemented, poses a real *threat 
to academic freedom, freedom of expression and the right to protest.
*
To be clear, *antisemitism is a real problem and must be fought in all 
its forms*.

*Independent Jewish Voices* is active in the struggle against 
antisemitism. We reject all forms of racism and oppression. We believe 
that antisemitism is intimately tied to other forms of hate, and that it 
increases when racism, xenophobia and intolerance of all sorts are on 
the rise. For these reasons, we believe that the important battle 
against antisemitism is actually undermined when opposition to Israel's 
oppression of the Palestinians is branded antisemitic.

***

*Open letter: *

We, the undersigned members of the Canadian academic community wish to 
express our opposition to the adoption of the International Holocaust 
Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism by 
academic institutions and other public bodies in Canada.

Antisemitism is an imminent and increasingly deadly threat to Jews. 
However, we do not believe that the adoption of this definition serves 
the purpose of defeating this insidious form of hatred. The IHRA 
definition, which has recently been adopted by the Canadian government, 
is worded in such a way as to intentionally equate legitimate criticisms 
of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism. This 
conflation undermines both the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice 
and equality and the global struggle against antisemitism. It also 
serves to shield Israel from accountability to universal standards of 
human rights and international law. We believe that the adoption of the 
IHRA definition of antisemitism by Canadian academic institutions would 
create a “*chilly climate*” in relation to forms of teaching, research 
and activism on Israel and Palestine. We urge all those who value honest 
debate and academic freedom to reject the imposition of a definition 
that would *imperil the pursuit of truth and the legitimate expression 
of dissent*.

***

*SIGN HERE* 
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl0MENs2YRjoN39IOJRb8O454Nub9jI9pe8lCi2hMzcoKN3Q/viewform>

For more information, including Independent Jewish Voices' full report 
on the IHRA definition, please visit: www.noihra.ca 
<http://www.noihra.ca>. Please feel free to contact us with any 
questions at noihra at ijvcanada.org <mailto:noihra at ijvcanada.org>.

You can also find our handbook on the IHRA definition here: 
https://www.noihra.ca/academic-campaign 
<https://www.noihra.ca/academic-campaign>
<https://www.noihra.ca/academic-campaign>

Academic campaign — No IHRA <https://www.noihra.ca/academic-campaign>
To date, over 525 Canadian academics have signed on to an open letter 
opposing the IHRA definition of antisemitism. If you're a Canadian 
academic and want to sign the petition, click here. To view the full 
list of signatories, click here.
www.noihra.ca

In solidarity,

*Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism, Racism, Colonialism & 
Censorship in Canada (ARC)*

*Mark Ayyash*, Associate Professor of Sociology, Mount Royal University

*Reem Bahdi*, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor

*Greg Bird*, Associate Professor of Sociology, Wilfrid Laurier University

*Sheryl Nestel*, Independent Scholar (Independent Jewish Voices)

*Jasmin Zine*, Professor of Sociology and the Muslim Studies Option, 
Wilfrid Laurier University

For further information, please visit *our website:* 
https://www.noihra.ca/academic-campaign 
<https://www.noihra.ca/academic-campaign>

A number of faculty associations and academic unions in *Ontario* have 
already passed motions against the IHRA Definition:

CUPE 3903 (Contract Faculty, Teaching/Research Assistants Union, York 
University) 
<https://3903.cupe.ca/2020/10/27/cupe-3903-executive-committee-opposes-premier-fords-proposed-bill-168/>

CUPE 3906 (Contact Faculty, Teaching Assistants & Postdocs at McMaster 
University) 
<https://cupe3906.org/2020/11/15/cupe-3906-executive-committee-statement-on-doug-fords-anti-democratic-bill-168/>

Nipissing University Faculty Association 
<https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f52a48dcce98340e25350e2/t/6009d4cd9aae3634980fae05/1611257037325/Nipissing+Uni+FA+-+NoIHRA+Letter.pdf>

Ontario College of Art & Design Faculty Association 
<http://ocadfa.ca/ocadfa-monthly-newsletter-vol-1-issue-1-january-2021/>

Osgoode Hall Faculty Association <https://www.osgoodefaculty.ca/issues/>

Ryerson Faculty Association <https://www.rfanet.ca/>

St. Jerome’s University Academic Staff Association 
<https://www.noihra.ca/s/SJUASA-Letter.pdf>

Western University Faculty Association 
<https://www.uwofa.ca/article/statement-uwofa-ontario-government-circumventing-democracy-and-public-debate-bill-168>

Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association 
<https://www.noihra.ca/s/WLUFA-NoIHRA-Letterdocx.pdf>

York University Faculty Association 
<https://www.yufa.ca/yufa-exec-rejects-government-attack-on-academic-freedom-democratic-debate/#:~:text=YUFA%20Exec%20rejects%20government%20attack%20on%20academic%20freedom%2C%20democratic%20debate,-Posted%20by%20YUFA&text=Despite%20the%20widespread%20public%20interest,any%20further%20discussion%20or%20debate>

*+ Ontario Confederation of Faculty Associations* 
<https://ocufa.on.ca/press-releases/ocufa-opposes-ontario-government-circumventing-democracy-and-public-debate-on-bill-168/>***(OCUFA)*

+ This week the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association 
<https://usaskfaculty.ca/>became the first academic union outside of 
Ontario to pass a motion against the IHRA Definition.

And the Association of Academic Staff University of Alberta 
<https://aasua.ca/>(AASUA) also passed a motion.

Non-exhaustive list of other Canadian Organizations who have spoken out 
against the IHRA Definition:

BC Civil Liberties Association 
<https://bccla.org/our_work/the-bccla-opposes-the-international-campaign-to-adopt-the-international-holocaust-remembrance-association-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism/>

Canadian Labour Congress 
<https://bccla.org/our_work/the-bccla-opposes-the-international-campaign-to-adopt-the-international-holocaust-remembrance-association-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism/>

Canadian Federation of Students 
<https://cfs-fcee.ca/cfs-supports-ijvs-definition-of-antisemitism/>

Canadian Union of Postal Workers 
<https://www.cupw.ca/en/canadian-union-postal-workers-cupw-strongly-urges-all-elected-members-legislature-ontario-vote>

Canadian Union of Public Employees – Ontario 
<https://cupe.on.ca/speaking-up-for-freedom-of-speech-and-human-rights-everywhere-cupe-ontarios-statement-on-bill-168/>

Independent Jewish Voices Canada <https://www.noihra.ca/>

Ligue des droits et libertés <https://www.noihra.ca/partners>

Vancouver and District Labour Council 
<https://www.vdlc.ca/combating_anti_semitism_in_vancouver>

--------------

Greg Bird | Associate Professor | Department of Sociology | MA in 
Cultural Analysis & Social Theory Program | Wilfrid Laurier 
University|@GregUccello | https://wlu-ca.academia.edu/GregBird 
<https://wlu-ca.academia.edu/GregBird>

| http://www.sunypress.edu/p-6266-containing-community.aspx 
<http://www.sunypress.edu/p-6266-containing-community.aspx>

Wilfrid Laurier University is on the traditional and unceded territory 
of the Neutral, Anishnawbe and Haudenosaunee peoples.Brantford, 
Kitchener, and Waterloo are located on the *Haldimand Tract 
<http://www.sixnations.ca/LandsResources/HaldProc.htm>*.

*The Haldimand Tract: *On 25 October 1784, Sir Frederick Haldimand, the 
governor of Québec, signed a decree that granted a tract of land to the 
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), also known as the Six Nations, for their 
alliance with British forces during the American Revolution (1775-83). 
The Haldimand Tract extends by 6 miles on both sides of the Grand River, 
from its source in Dundalk Township to its mouth at Lake Erie. 
Originally, 950,000 acres was designated for the Haldimand Tract, today 
approximately 48,000 acres remain. Read more about the history and 
ongoing negotiations: 
https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/documents/p80100/130877E.pdf 
<https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/documents/p80100/130877E.pdf>.

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