WASHINGTON: Harvard University has dismissed the faculty leaders of its Centre for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) after mounting pressure from the Trump administration over alleged anti-Israel bias, according to reports by The Harvard Crimson and The New York Times.
Harvard announced last week that Cemal Kafadar, Director of the CMES and Professor of Turkish Studies, and Rosie Bsheer, Associate Director and Professor of History, were both forced to step down from their positions.
The changes, reported by The Harvard Crimson, have sparked controversy, with critics accusing the university of yielding to political pressure to suppress pro-Palestinian and critical-of-Israel academic discourse.
The shake-up comes at a time of growing scrutiny of Harvard’s handling of issues surrounding antisemitism on campus, particularly in the wake of the Israeli war on Gaza.
The US government, under President Donald Trump, has been exerting increasing pressure on universities to clamp down on pro-Palestinian voices and support Israel more overtly.
In an email to faculty, Interim Dean of Social Science, David Cutler, confirmed the leadership changes, stating that Kafadar would step down by the end of the academic year.
He also thanked Kafadar for his service and invited colleagues to suggest potential candidates to replace him.
“I would value your thoughts on who, in addition to intellectual leadership and a compelling vision for the Centre, would also bring the necessary administrative skills to be successful in this crucial role,” Cutler wrote.
The decision to dismiss Kafadar and Bsheer has ignited a heated debate on academic freedom. Faculty members familiar with the situation told The Harvard Crimson that the two professors felt pressured to leave their roles.
Critics argue that the university’s actions reflect a broader trend of limiting academic independence in the face of political pressure from the Trump administration.
As Harvard distances itself from programming perceived as politically contentious, the university has faced mounting criticism from academic groups.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) condemned the dismissals, calling them an “abrupt termination” and accusing the university of succumbing to “bullies and bad-faith actors” seeking to silence academic discussions on critical issues.
Asli Bali, President of the Middle East Studies Association, also criticised Harvard’s move, calling it “unprecedented” and warning that elite institutions were being coerced into compromising their independence.
“Now their universities are on notice that the government is looking for a settlement that includes abridging the autonomy of centres and departments devoted to the study of the Middle East,” she said.
The controversy follows similar developments at other prestigious US universities.
Last week, Columbia University, facing pressure from the Trump administration over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, agreed to a review of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department.
Columbia also faced significant changes to its leadership after the administration threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding, leading to the resignation of Columbia’s president.
