Report filed against education minister Moes: ‘Official misconduct’

Assistant professor Harry Pettit of Radboud University Nijmegen has filed a report against Education Minister Gouke Moes. The minister, in turn, believes Pettit should be prosecuted.

A week ago, caretaker minister Moes put pressure on Radboud University Nijmegen during the talk show Café Kockelmann. He said the university should file a report against the outspoken pro-Palestinian assistant professor Harry Pettit because of his tweets about Israel and Gaza.

Moes threatened to use an ‘escalation ladder’. He could, he said, speak with the Supervisory Board or ask the Education Inspectorate to look into the matter. He also claimed to have more ‘instruments’ at his disposal.

Striking back

Such pressure undermines the rule of law, academic freedom and freedom of expression, argue the lecturer and his lawyer Adem Çatbaş. They claim this constitutes an official misconduct.

In a statement to HOP, Çatbaş said the minister was not merely outlining his options. Moes was using his ‘escalation ladder’ to exert pressure on the university. “That already contains sufficient coercion for our report.”

Speaking to Vox, the Nijmegen university magazine, Pettit said governments are becoming increasingly autocratic in their approach to pro-Palestinian activism: “I decided to strike back, hoping to inspire others to speak up as well.”

Moes waiting

Through his spokesperson, Moes responded: “Everyone is free to file a report. We will patiently await further developments.”

Prosecution for official misconduct is preceded by a preliminary investigation by the Procurator General of the Supreme Court. Such investigations have only been conducted a few times in recent years (for example, in connection with the childcare benefits scandal). None of them have led to prosecution.

The Minister of Justice can order prosecution, as can the House of Representatives. This rarely happens.