In recent social media posts, the rectors of two Brussels universities (ULB, Université libre de Bruxelles and VUB, Vrije Universiteit Brussel) have condemned the use of the term ‘anti-Zionism’ which, according to them, is actually used to talk about antisemitism.
In response, an open letter signed by more than 300 academics has denounced this abuse of language, as well as the invisibility of the terms ‘anti-Arab racism’ and ‘Islamophobia’ in the universities rectors’ statement.
Excerpt from the open letter:
While antisemitism is explicitly rejected in the statement by the two rectors, Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism are generally grouped under the term ‘racism in all its forms’. Doesn’t systematically making antisemitism explicit while not doing the same for anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia contribute to the normalization of discrimination against Muslims and people of Middle Eastern origin?
