Anti-Israeli Pettit not allowed to work at Brussels university

The controversial pro-Palestinian researcher Harry Pettit is, on reflection, no longer welcome at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Last year he left Radboud University Nijmegen.

Even the Minister of Education became involved in his job. Caretaker minister Gouke Moes (BBB) believed that Radboud University should file a complaint against assistant professor Harry Pettit because of his radical tweets about Israel.

Pettit did indeed leave, once he had found another job. He has won a European research grant and is taking it with him. He was due to start at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in August.

Incitement to hatred

However, that will not go ahead. “The VUB stands for freedom of expression, even when it concerns controversial views”, a statement said. “But statements that incite hatred or violence not only cross legal boundaries, but also the norms and values that apply within the VUB university community.”

Pettit tweeted in praise of the killed Iranian leader Khamenei. He believes he will be remembered for his resistance against ‘the paedophilic US-‘israel’ cabal’. He says nothing about the protests that were violently suppressed.

The VUB considers this a step too far. The statements are said to be in breach of agreements the university had made with him. Pettit himself has not yet responded.