The University of Cape Town on Friday defended its decision to rescind an invitation to Danish editor Flemming Rose‚ who had been scheduled to deliver the annual TB Davie lecture on academic freedom in August.
In 2005‚ Rose commissioned the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that sparked protests and riots across the world.
Taking up cudgels on his behalf‚ the Index on Censorship said it is appalled by UCT’s decision‚ “especially at a time when academic freedom is under threat around the world”.
Jodie Ginsberg‚ Index on Censorship chief executive‚ said: “This a huge blow to free expression and academic freedom and UCT’s attempts to dress this up as otherwise are to be condemned in the strongest terms.”
Rose was invited last year to give the August 2016 lecture.
UCT said in a statement the decision to withdraw its invitation to the speaker was influenced by the question: “How exactly will bringing Mr Rose here at this time advance academic freedom on the campus and in the nation?”
“While we believe and agree that academic freedom (and many other freedoms) are constantly under threat the world over‚ there are instances (as in this case) where defending the right to academic freedom cannot override a broader context.”
The cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed had generated extensive debate and controversy globally‚ regarding freedom of speech‚ blasphemy and Islamophobia‚ and was accompanied by public protests.
When the Academic Freedom Committee issued the invitation to Rose in March 2015‚ the climate on university campuses across South Africa was much quieter and less volatile than it is now‚ UCT said.
“#RhodesMustFall‚ #FeesMustFall‚ #UCTSurvivors and other groups that now protest regularly on the UCT campus were relatively unknown; the protest around the Rhodes statue had not yet been launched. Pro-Palestinian protest activity on campus was sometimes emotional but was not violent.
“…It is a decision we have come to after careful analysis of the risks presented by going ahead with the lecture. We have agonised over withdrawing the invitation‚ and we do so with great reluctance and regret…”
UCT said its risk analysis included the security of Rose himself‚ as well as those who would have hosted him‚ and those who would have attended the lecture‚ “to the ability to hold a public lecture without total disruption; to the fragile but uneasy calm which currently exists on campus; and to the positive interfaith relations which currently mark public life in the Western Cape”.
UCT defends cancellation of lecture by controversial Prophet Mohammed editor
The University of Cape Town on Friday defended its decision to rescind an invitation to Danish editor Flemming Rose‚ who had been scheduled to deliver the annual TB Davie lecture on academic freedom in August.
In 2005‚ Rose commissioned the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that sparked protests and riots across the world.
Taking up cudgels on his behalf‚ the Index on Censorship said it is appalled by UCT’s decision‚ “especially at a time when academic freedom is under threat around the world”.
Jodie Ginsberg‚ Index on Censorship chief executive‚ said: “This a huge blow to free expression and academic freedom and UCT’s attempts to dress this up as otherwise are to be condemned in the strongest terms.”
Rose was invited last year to give the August 2016 lecture.
UCT said in a statement the decision to withdraw its invitation to the speaker was influenced by the question: “How exactly will bringing Mr Rose here at this time advance academic freedom on the campus and in the nation?”
“While we believe and agree that academic freedom (and many other freedoms) are constantly under threat the world over‚ there are instances (as in this case) where defending the right to academic freedom cannot override a broader context.”
The cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed had generated extensive debate and controversy globally‚ regarding freedom of speech‚ blasphemy and Islamophobia‚ and was accompanied by public protests.
When the Academic Freedom Committee issued the invitation to Rose in March 2015‚ the climate on university campuses across South Africa was much quieter and less volatile than it is now‚ UCT said.
“#RhodesMustFall‚ #FeesMustFall‚ #UCTSurvivors and other groups that now protest regularly on the UCT campus were relatively unknown; the protest around the Rhodes statue had not yet been launched. Pro-Palestinian protest activity on campus was sometimes emotional but was not violent.
“…It is a decision we have come to after careful analysis of the risks presented by going ahead with the lecture. We have agonised over withdrawing the invitation‚ and we do so with great reluctance and regret…”
UCT said its risk analysis included the security of Rose himself‚ as well as those who would have hosted him‚ and those who would have attended the lecture‚ “to the ability to hold a public lecture without total disruption; to the fragile but uneasy calm which currently exists on campus; and to the positive interfaith relations which currently mark public life in the Western Cape”.
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