Letter From Concerned Employees Of The University Regarding The Deportation of Hicham Yezza

Presently 67 signatories from the University of Nottingham

Dear Vice-Chancellor,

As employees of the University of Nottingham we are very concerned that the recent arrest of Hicham Yezza, an administrator in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, and Rizwaan Sabir, a masters student in the School of Politics and International Relations, has resulted in Hicham being served with a deportation order by the Home Office and is being required to leave the country by 1 June.

We would like the University’s declarations about upholding academic freedom to be reflected in its response to the arrests. In particular we request the University refrains from using prejudicial language against Hicham and Rizwaan and makes good its offer to provide them with substantial support and counselling. We hope and expect the University will develop in consultation with its employees guidelines designed to avoid such unnecessary arrests and invasions into academic freedom in the future. Finally, the University can best demonstrate its commitment to uphold academic freedom by pursuing all means possible to ensure Hicham receives a fair trial.

Yours,

Dr Karen Adler, School of History
Professor Andreas Bieler, School of Politics and International Relations
Dr Sabine C Carey, School of Politics and International Relations
Jorge L. Catalá Carrasco, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Susie Colley, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Dr Neil Curtis, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Caroline Edwards, Department of Cultural Studies
Dr Catherine Gegout, School of Politics and International Relations
Dr Richard Goddard, School of History
Dan Hall, Department of German Studies

Dr Zahera Harb, Department of Cultural Studies
Antje Heldt, Department of German Studies
Dr Rolf Hellebust, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Dr Christian Karner, School of Sociology and Social Policy
Cécile Lancashire, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Dr Jeremy Lane, French Department
Dr Steve Legg, School of Geography
Dr Rob Lutton, School of History
Dr Spencer Mawby, School of History
Polly McMichael, School of Modern Languages and Cultures

Professor Julia O’Connell Davidson, School of Sociology and Social Policy
Dr Davide Pero School of Sociology and Social Policy
David Parker, Sociology and Social Policy
Dr Matthew Rendall, School of Politics and International Relations
Dr Jean-Xavier Ridon, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Dr Srila Roy, School of Sociology and Social Policy
Nick Russell, IS
Dr Mark Sabine, Dept of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Dr Susanne Seymour, School of Geography
Dr Adam Swain, School of Geography

Dr Claire Taylor, School of History
Dr Alex Vasudevan, School of Geography
Dr Dave Weston, School of M3
Catherine Taylor, IS
Laiz Chen, GTA, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Dr Vanessa Pupavac, School of Politics and International Relations
Luke Robinson, School of American and Canadian Studies
Dr Sujatha Raman, Institute for Science and Society
Matt Clark, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Andrew Robinson, School of Politics

Dr Mike Craven, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Maria Ryan, American and Canadian Studies
Dr Ross Balzaretti, School of History
Dr Komarine Romdenh-Romluc, Department of Philosophy
Dr Elisabetta Zontini, School of Sociology and Social Policy
Dr Pearl Agyakwa, School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Emily Hawes, Department of Cultural Studies
Shahab Esfandiary, Department of Cultural Stuides
Dr Nick Wallerstein, School of Geography
Dr Alf Nilsen, School of Politics and International Relations

Dr Sara Motta, School of Politics and International Relations
Nathan Miller, Lakeside Arts Centre
Dr Bettina Renz, School of Politics and International Relations
Jude Roberts, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Prof. Matthias Uecker, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Dr Franziska Meyer, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Nick Baron, School of History
Aimie Purser, School of Sociology and Social Policy
Dr R Boukhanouf, Institute of Sustainable Energy Technology, School of the Built Environment
Shenyi Wu, Institute of Sustainable Energy Technology, School of the Built Environment

Monica McLean, School of Education
Dr Karl Wilds, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Tony Burns, School of Politics and International Relations
Dr James Helgeson, Department of French
Prof Roger Bromley, School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Dr Harry Cocks, School of History
Dr Siggy Fran, School of Modern Languages and Cultures