Palestinian academic Shahd Abusalama said that the Sheffield Hallam University has decided on Thursday not to launch an investigation into her, The New Arab reported.
Abusalama, a 30-year-old Ph.D. candidate from Gaza, had previously been suspended from teaching following a complaint but was reinstated last week.
We're celebrating a fantastic victory for Palestine today 🇵🇸🎉 @sheffhallamuni will not be progressing with any further investigation of the malicious smears that have been levelled against me. 1/3#FreePalestine #InSupportOfShahd pic.twitter.com/n2zq4L7BdN
— ShahdAbusalama (@ShahdAbusalama) February 3, 2022
Her case prompted accusations of pro-Israel discrimination and renewed debate over the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism, which has faced staunch opposition from those who say it has been used to stifle criticism of Israel.
“We’re hoping with this fightback… that this will set a precedent and it will protect Palestinians and advocates of Palestine from such malicious allegations of anti-Semitism and it will also bring the IHRA [definition] to serious scrutiny,” Abusalama told The New Arab on Friday.
“There were people in the students’ unions… on [a]… UCU [University and College Union] level, street level – Palestine to South Africa to Algeria to Norway to [the] UK to the US. It’s been amazing. And it’s just this pressure that shows that we can actually win for Palestine and stop the bullies.”
Announcing Thursday’s news, Abusalama tweeted: “I have been wholly exonerated of the false charges of antisemitism, brought under the unfit-for-purpose IHRA definition.”
Their latest hate article uses a screenshot from a video where I appear distressed, in the aftermath of the killing of #GeorgeFloyd in the US and autistic Palestinian Eyad Hallaq in Jerusalem, which shows they have no sympathy for any of our grievances: https://t.co/OCUpwOqb1y
— ShahdAbusalama (@ShahdAbusalama) February 5, 2022
She added that she “will also be offered a more secure contract”, making her an employee of Sheffield Hallam University.
“That wouldn’t happen without your support,” the academic said. “THANK YOU. Let’s keep this going on until we see a liberated Palestine.”
Social media users received Abusalama’s update with jubilation.
(The New Arab, PC, Social Media)
