The Twitter message contained comments that were objectively disturbing and offensive, said Angela Campbell and Fabrice Labeau, vice presidents of the university, in writing.
The post in question has since been deleted. But the CBC, which was able to see it through a screenshot, says its author, Soroosh Shahriari, wrote in it that it would be reassuring to witness the execution of hundreds of mujahideen leaders arrested in the recent unrest.
The mujahideen are fighters of an Islamic liberation army or fighters of jihad (holy war to spread and defend Islam).
Soroosh Shahriari, an associate professor in the Jewish Studies program at McGill University this fall, did not comment on the situation.
From the university management’s point of view, in the current stormy context, it is crucial to remember the importance of procedural fairness and the dangers of hasty judgment, especially with regard to unconfirmed social media activities.
“We must consider protecting freedom of expression in our society, even when what is being expressed is distasteful or disturbing. »
— A quote from an excerpt from the written statement by the Vice Presidents of McGill University
The news has caused a stir in the university community: an online petition calling for an investigation and disciplinary action by the institution’s management has garnered nearly 24,000 signatures so far.
The petition reads, “We view this statement as a veiled threat to the safety of all people, including McGill students, who support the protesters’ desire for freedom or who share the political beliefs of those affected by this news.” Twitter.
McGill University students hold placards in solidarity with their fellow students at Tehran’s Sharif and Khajeh Nasir Technical Universities, who have faced repression after protesting the fate of Mahsa Amini.
Photo: CBC/Kwabena Oduro
A potentially threatening message
On Thursday, students gathered outside the university, Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, to support protesters who swept through several cities in Iran to denounce the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Mahsa Amini was arrested by the Morality Police for flouting the strict dress code for women in this theocratic Islamic republic and died in hospital three days later.
Mahsa Amini’s death has sparked protests in several cities around the world, including Montreal and Quebec.
For McGill University rally organizer Bijan Jalali, the message posted on Twitter is dangerous in that the lecturer is creating a threatening environment for Iranian students living in Montreal and around the world.
McGill University has directly contacted its students from Iran to offer support, a communications spokesman for the institution said. Any student in need of support, whether Iranian or not, should not hesitate to take advantage of what the university has to offer. We know this situation is stressful.
On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland barred 10,000 officials and senior officials from the Tehran regime from entering Canada.
According to information from CBC