Birzeit University protests Israel’s denial of entry visas to the South African Minister of Higher Education and a delegation of University Professors

Birzeit University has reacted with anger to the attempt by the occupation to stunt its academic growth and diversification through its denial of visas to the South African Minister of Higher Education, Mr. Blade Nzimande, and three prominent South African academics. Their purpose was the development of cooperation through the establishment of an African Studies program in the Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies at Birzeit University, an unprecedented initiative for Palestinian higher education.

The University protests this discriminatory and colonial measure, and hereby reaffirms its determination to persevere as an open space in which the right to education is constantly affirmed, no matter what the obstacles that are placed in our way. We are determined to launch the program and to see it through.

Dr. Khalil Hindi, Birzeit University President, noted that this is but one of a series of attempts to restrict academic freedom and the mobility of scholars, a serious violation of human rights. Dr. Hindi called on members of the world academy to react vigorously to this concerted attack on our universities and the fruitless attempt to restrict the growing bonds between Palestinians and numerous educational institutions in various parts of the world.