Leiden – Leiden University is commissioning research into allegations of Antisemitism within a department of the Faculty of Law. The university announced this on Monday. Pending the results of this study, those involved will refrain from commenting, the university said.
Paul Cliteur, who was senator of Forum for Democracy (FVD) until last Tuesday, works at the faculty in Leiden and is considered the intellectual mentor of FVD founder Thierry Baudet. Cliteur is criticized for not having sufficiently distanced himself from Antisemitic voices within the party. “My fate is tied to his,” he told the ANP about the complications surrounding Baudet.
“I joined the party because of his vision.” He was not pleased with the way in which Baudet was approached by others within FVD because of ‘a few texts that have nothing to do with what the party stands for’. He praised Baudet, who stood behind JFVD chairman Freek Jansen after the youth branch of the party was discredited by homophobic and Antisemitic statements on social media.
Rector magnificus Carel Stolker wrote on Twitter on Saturday that ‘the accusation of a pattern of anti-Semitism around FVD is extremely worrisome and thus also affects Paul Cliteur. Antisemitism and racism, as well as not distancing themselves from them, are totally but totally unacceptable. To be continued soon. ‘
According to the university, the accusations of Antisemitism are causing great unrest within the faculty and the university. The Executive Board takes the accusations seriously because, “if correct, they would be clearly in conflict with the values that Leiden University stands for.” The college is therefore investigating whether these allegations are valid.
The college assembles an external commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations at short notice. It is also examined how this has been dealt with within the department. The research will be started as soon as possible, the university reports.
Source: The Hague online
