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The director and associate director of Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies are stepping down, The New York Times reported Saturday, following criticism of the department's alleged anti-Israel bias and as the university faces heightened federal scrutiny over antisemitism on campus.
The departures of Cemal Kafadar, a professor of Turkish studies, and Rosie Bsheer, a historian of the Middle East, come amid broader tensions surrounding academic freedom, political discourse and campus climate.
According to the report, the two were asked by Hopi Hoekstra, dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, to prepare to discuss how their programs aligned with university goals of ideological diversity and respectful engagement with controversial topics.
James Chisholm, a spokesperson for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, declined to comment, calling the matter personal.
The executive committee of Harvard’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors condemned what it described as an abrupt dismissal of the two scholars.
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“In the context of recent events, the decision appears to be a shameful attempt to escape punishment from the Trump administration for engaging in academic discussions about topics the president disfavors,” the committee said. “These firings cede the university’s decision-making authority to bullies and bad-faith actors committed to silencing speech with which they disagree.”
The resignations come amid broader scrutiny of elite American universities. On Friday, Columbia University President Katrina Armstrong announced her resignation, just nine months after her predecessor stepped down.
Armstrong’s announcement followed criticism over the university’s handling of antisemitism and came weeks after Columbia entered discussions with the Trump administration over the potential unfreezing of $400 million in federal research funds.