[IPSM] Media Release: Concordia University Blocks Israeli Apartheid Week

[Jaggi Singh]

****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
Thursday February 9, 2006

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY BLOCKS ISRAELI APARTHEID WEEK

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights-Concordia has been banned, without 
explanation or consultation, by the administration, specifically by President 
Claude Lajeunesse, from using the Samuel Bronfman Building at Concordia 
University, to host an upcoming event, Israeli Apartheid Week 2006.

SPHR booked and received a confirmation to hold Apartheid Week at the Samuel 
Bronfman building about two weeks ago. All other venues with similar capacity 
(100-200 people), were booked, and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights 
(SPHR -- the organizing group) was left with the Bronfman as the only 
respectable venue suitable for the speakers we will be hosting (Mr. Toufic 
Haddad, Dr. Ismail Zayid and Dr. Uri Davis).

After receiving the confirmation for the bookings, SPHR began to publicize the 
event. On Tuesday night, only 6 days before the start of our event, SPHR 
received an email from Mr. Jacques Lachance stating that: "Samuel Bronfman 
Building is not a satisfactory and suitable option," providing no reason or 
explanation for why the room is not a suitable option.

"This decision by the Concordia administration to refuse SPHR, an organization 
under the umbrella of the CSU, the right to use a space that has already been 
booked and confirmed, without any consultation or explanation is a clear act of 
discrimination, and a violation of our freedom of speech and our right to 
organize," says Tania Tabar of SPHR.

"This action contradicts the values of democracy and freedom of expression that 
should be upheld in a university environment. SPHR refuses to accept this act 
of censorship, and discrimination based on our political beliefs by Mr. 
Lajeunesse. We expect that the Concordia administration treat SPHR as it would 
any other student organization. It is yet another example of the silencing of 
anti-apartheid voices on Canadian campuses."

Israeli Apartheid Week was organized for the first time by the Arab Students' 
Collective at the University of Toronto making headlines internationally. This 
year the event will be held simultaneously across various campuses in Toronto, 
Montreal, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Oxford (UK) from February 13th and 18th.

Concordia University's decision to cancel the room bookings has angered many 
students and members of the Montreal community, who stand behind SPHR and their 
right to freedom of speech on campus.

For more information contact: Tania Tabar (514) 999.1682 tania at resist.ca