AUB fires professor over Pro-Palestine stance

The American University of Beirut (AUB) has stirred controversy by terminating Dr. Thalia Arawi’s employment contract following her vocal advocacy for the Palestinian cause and criticism of the Israeli ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Simultaneously. the move has triggered widespread condemnation from Arab nations and civil society groups.

A petition has been initiated by a coalition of professionals, faculty, and students in solidarity with Professor Arawi, decrying the absence of clear justification for her contract termination by the American University of Beirut (AUB).

“Professor Arawi is a respected, internationally renowned leading figure in Bioethics credited with establishing the first and only Regional Bioethics and Professionalism Program in the Arab Region. She is also the first Arab member of the International Association of Bioethics and holds memberships in numerous other bioethics organizations,” the petition read.

“Professor Arawi is a renowned scholar with a remarkable record of publications and national, regional as well as international impact which made the SHBPP the first and only WHO Collaborating Center for Health Ethics in the Arab World,” it added.

Expressing concerns over the perceived lack of transparency and allegations surrounding her dismissal, the petition emphasized the detrimental impact on academic freedom and faculty integrity.

In an unprecedented move, the American University of Beirut (#AUB) has terminated Dr. Thalia Arawi’s contract due to her outspoken support for the Palestinian cause and her condemnation of the Israeli war on #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/KCCI7BpskN

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 5, 2024

“The lack of reasons provided for Professor Arawi’s termination of the contract is deeply concerning. Her dismissal, surrounded by allegations and lacking transparency, undermines academic freedom and faculty dignity,” the petition stressed.

Meanwhile, Professor Arawi took to her Facebook page to assert that she has “been bullied, harassed, and subjected to defamation and slander with ultimately my contract being terminated (starting this June with a 4 months’ notice only) on no grounds whatsoever.”

She stressed that the “reasons given were my “image” and “demeanor”. I was also accused of “incompetence”.” She stated that she was also accused “publicly of “unprofessionalism” and of being “unethical”.”

“Since all the above are unfounded, I tend to believe that the termination of my contract is due to my support of Palestine, Syria, etc., to my Arab nationalism,” she highlighted.

Dr. Thalia Arawi’s insight into ongoing Israeli aggression on healthcare in Gaza

It is worth noting that Dr. Thalia Arawi, in her most recent article titled “War on Healthcare Services in Gaza,” delved into the ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, shedding light on its impact on healthcare services.

Arawi initiated with a concise historical backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, underscoring the unique status of the Gaza Strip and the escalation of hostilities since October 7, 2023. She then highlighted a pivotal aspect of this particular Israeli aggression – the deliberate targeting of the healthcare infrastructure in Gaza.

Throughout her analysis, Arawi outlined the systematic Israeli assault on Gaza’s healthcare system, emphasizing the devastating consequences on medical facilities, personnel, and patient care. By employing a necropolitical framework, she unraveled the motives behind such Israeli atrocities, delving into the political dynamics and power structures at play.

Arawi’s examination provided valuable insights into the complexities of the genocide, particularly its impact on vulnerable populations and essential services. Her analysis underscored the urgent need for international attention and intervention to safeguard healthcare access and uphold humanitarian principles in Gaza.

AUB students join global protests against Israeli genocide in Gaza

Student protests advocating for Palestine and denouncing the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip ignited last Tuesday across multiple universities in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Among the institutions involved were Lebanon’s premier American universities, AUB and LAU.

Demonstrators passionately echoed chants in solidarity with the Palestinian Resistance and their unwavering support for occupied al-Quds.

Drawing inspiration from the voices of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, they resounded with rallying cries such as “We are the men of Mohammed Deif,” in homage to the top military figure in al-Qassam. Another resounding chant echoed their determination: “Marching, marching toward al-Quds,” alongside the declaration, “With our souls, with our blood, we sacrifice for you, O Al-Aqsa.”

The Israeli occupation’s flag was burnt by the crowds, while the Lebanese and Palestinian flags covered the protests.

At the time, students at the Lebanese Arab University in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, staged a sit-in in solidarity with Palestine.

Student activism in Lebanon coincides with the growing university movements seen in the United States and Europe, which have been protesting the Israeli genocide in Gaza for weeks, demanding that their universities divest from the occupation, their government cuts its support to the entity, and demanding an immediate end to the war on Gaza.

A significant number of faculty members have joined their students in the on-campus encampments, leading to the arrest of several prominent professors by riot police, who have been called on by many university administrations.

Over 2,000 people have been arrested on US university campuses in the past three weeks as they took part in pro-Palestine protests, urging their universities to divest from all investments linked to the Israeli occupation. This marks the widest police response to campus activism in years, and it may subject law enforcement agencies to challenges.