A-Paulin Language
AN OXFORD DON has been fiercely criticised for allegedly anti-Semitic comments made in an interview with an Egyptian English Language Newspaper.
Tom Paulin, an English tutor at Hertford, also famous for his appearances on BBC2's Late Review, told Al-Ahram that Brooklyn-born Jewish settlers "should be shot dead". He added: "I think they are Nazis, racists. I feel nothing but hatred for them".
His comments could potentially leave him liable to prosecution for inciting violence and racial hatred under the Government's Terrorism Act of 2000.
Hertford acted swiftly to separate themselves from Mr Paulin's words, saying: "While supporting free speech within the framework of the law, the Principal and Fellows totally dissociate themselves from any apparently racist comment attributed to Mr Paulin".
Dan Cowen, co-president of J-Soc, called the comments "discriminating and inciteful against Jews" and hoped that the University would "take appropriate action to make sure that Paulin's stance is not seen as representative of the university".
The Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Colin Lucas, responded by saying that whilst all forms of racism should be abhorred, it was important to remember "right of freedom of speech within the law...whether [people] are expressing popular or less accepted opinions".
Mr Paulin later defended his comments in a letter to The Daily Telegraph, saying that they had been "distorted" and that he was "a lifelong opponent of anti-Semitism and a consistent supporter of a Palestinian state". Mr Paulin was unavailable for further comment at the time of going to press.
25th Apr 2002