DISCRIMINATORY CONCORDIA OPPRESSES PALESTINIAN FOR OPPOSING ZIONAZI WAR CRIMINAL

Concordia University Decision Against Student Has Destructive Outcome
by
Yahya Abdul Rahman
Montreal Muslim News
http://www.montrealmuslimnews.net/serhal.htm

Montreal: May 1, 2003 (MMN): On September 9th, 2002, when former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited to speak at Concordia University, Chadi Serhal had already completed his Political Science undergraduate program at Concordia, was registered in the Continuing Education Communications program, and was to resume his classes in January 2003.

Over 1500 people showed up on that day to protest the presence of Mr. Netanyahu, whom many consider to be a war criminal for his many acts against the Palestinian people during his time in office. (see: The Saddest Thing About Netanyahu's Visit To Canada Is That Someone Actually Wants to Bring Him http://www.montrealmuslimnews.net/netanyahu2.htm )

As a result of the strong and united opposition of the demonstrators Mr. Netanyahu was prevented from delivering his speech.

On November 25, 2002, in connection with his involvement in the demonstration against Netanyahu's visit, Serhal was charged by the University with "harassment' and 'threatening or violent conduct," and creating 'an unacceptable hostile and threatening environment for members of the University community." As a result of this ruling, Serhal was expelled from his academic program - which he had already registered in and paid a deposit for-, barred from Concordia University for 5 years retroactive to September 9th, 2002, lost his Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ), Student Authorization and Entry Visa to Canada, the chance to obtain health insurance as a student, his job in the UAE as well as the loan he was issued by his former employer to complete his Communications program.

Yesterday, Serhal once again appealed to Concordia University Rector, Dr. Frederick Lowy, to re-assess the University's November 25th decision.

In a letter to Dr. Lowy, Serhal wrote: "I contend that the sanctions against me are not warranted by my behaviour that day, which were free from 'harassment' and 'threatening or violent conduct'. I, however, have been singled out and sanctioned because I, allegedly, 'have been identified as having been present on the escalator and participating in these activities'. Therefore, I was arbitrarily found guilty-by-association, a process that contravenes Canadian and International Law. Video and surveillance footage from that day provide ample evidence that support my position. As such, a serious concern, which should be rectified, is the violations of my rights and denying me my student status."

The University, in its ruling against Serhal, said he was no longer a student on September 9th. He completed his undergraduate program in July 2002.

In his letter, Serhal responded by stating: "In your letter to me, you acknowledged that I had graduated in October and failed to specify or define my status between the time I had completed my last course at Concordia in July, 2002 and my graduation date in October of the same year, hence acknowledging and thus, affirming my student status at the university. Moreover, according to the Quebec and Canadian governments who issued my CAQ, Student Authorization and Student Visa, respectively, I was indeed a student at Concordia until 90 days after the grade for my last course had been officially reported."

Serhal argues that Dr. Lowy's bases for defining him as having non-student status has no grounds and is "based on clear systemic bias and discrimination towards certain students who voice their opinions on campus against the injustices and crimes that humanity suffers on the hands of occupation, imperialism, colonialism and globalization."

Serhal's situation gets even more complex. Since he has lost his job in the UAE, he is no longer eligible for an employment visa into that country, and due to a UAE law effective January, 2003, his parents who reside there must provide proof that he would be departing the country within 30 days from his anticipated date of entry in order to obtain a visitor visa for him. As a result of this rule, he does not qualify for a visa to stay with his family and seek another job.

"In effect," says Serhal, "since I hold a Lebanese passport, I have no option but to travel to Lebanon, a country I have only visited a couple of times and have no valid reason to visit nor a place to stay."

Serhal is of mixed Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese descent.

It goes without saying that Serhal is bitter and angry over what has happened to him, and other pro-Palestinian students at Concordia.

Several other pro-Palestinian students were also charged in the aftermath of the September 9th demonstration.

"The story of the students who were unjustly prosecuted by the university for their involvement in the sit-in opposing Netanyahu's presence at the University, before they were assaulted by the riot police, has made headlines both in Canada and abroad," Serhal says in his letter to Dr. Lowy.

"My name has been tarred both here and overseas due to the Concordia Administration's attempt to criminalize the dissident students whose voices conflict with the interests of certain groups and individuals," he further writes.

He says that the University's practices against him "can only be construed as discriminatory and regrettably racist."

He basis this charge by comparing his treatment with another charged individual, Zev Tiefenbach, who was not even a registered student on September 9th, 2002.

"Nevertheless," argues Serhal, "Mr. Tiefenbach "was given due process and a hearing under the university's Code of Rights and Responsibilities that was also postponed to accommodate his inability to attend the scheduled hearing. Mr. Tiefenbach was subsequently suspended for one semester from Concordia; a school he does not even attend."

In addition, Serhal points out, in the summer of 2001, fellow students Leith Marouf and Tom Keefer were both expelled by the university because of the University's failure to define a 'student'. Backed by major community and student support, both students battled in court and over-turned the University decision and were reinstated after a long and costly court battle.

In the case of Keefer v. Lowy, Dr. Lowy in a letter dated August 20, 2001 to Mr. Tom Keefer stated: 'Given the fact that you are not currently registered for any courses, you are beyond the jurisdiction of the Code of Rights and Responsibilities and are not, in fact, a current member of the University community.'

Mr. Keefer was barred from re-registering at Concordia and from all university premises.

"It is very interesting to see that the decision process with Mr. Keefer and Mr. Marouf was modified to accommodate Mr. Tiefenbach, a Jewish non-student and applied to me, a student of Arab and Muslim background," Serhal says.

Serhal is calling on Dr. Lowy to immediately reinstate him in the Communications program that is scheduled to begin on June 23rd, and that the University transfer his deposit that he paid for the January session and which has recently been credited to his 'student' account, to the June term Communications program. He further wants the University to immediately compensate him for all the losses he has incurred and will further incur as a result of his staying in Canada,

Serhal stated that the decision the university takes with regards to his case will have an impact on the school's public image and financial income.

"Many potential [international] students consider coming to Concordia," but may reconsider their decision if they feel they will be discriminated against.

Serhal gave Dr. Lowy 5 days to respond to his demands.

On Tuesday April 22nd, a delegation of Montreal community members associated with the Karameh campaign ( http://www.karameh.net/ ) met with Dr Lowy to hand him a letter and to discuss their concerns regarding what they referred to as "systemic racism and discrimination within the Concordia Administration" against Palestinian students and their supporters.

Karameh, the Arabic word for dignity, was launched a few months ago in the aftermath of the September 9th rally against Netenyahu, who they say is "a man who has been instrumental in the massacre of the Palestinian people, who has ordered the arbitrary detainment and torture of civilians and who has initiated a policy of collective punishment including the destruction of civilian homes, fields, crops and the murder and deportation of the relatives and friends criminalized by the Israeli state."

According to their website, the Karameh Campaign was "launched in Montreal, Canada to respond to the ongoing attempt to criminalize Palestinian solidarity organizing at Concordia University, other universities and communities, throughout Montreal and around the world."

In their letter to Dr. Lowy, the Karameh representatives presented three demands including a withdrawal of all charges and sanctions placed by the Administration against students and community members for their participation in the September 9th demonstration against Mr. Netanyahu, a full inquiry into systemic racism and discrimination at Concordia University, especially against Arabs and Muslims, and a formal commitment on the part of the University Administration to the rights of students and community members to access and use university space for community organizing and events free from harassment and intimidation.

The organizers also gave Dr. Lowy five days to respond to their demands. To date, they have not heard back from him.

On Friday May 2nd, at 7:00PM at the Frank Dawson Auditorium of McGill University, Karameh, along with SPHR and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) of Montreal, will host a free public panel discussion entitled "Banned at Concordia: Palestinian Solidarity Organizing Under Attack at Concordia & Beyond."

Although Serhal says he hates to ask of anything from anyone, he has been left in a desperate situation. Unless he gets a positive response from the University soon, he is unsure what the future will hold for him

Hours after sending his letter by e-mail, Dr. Lowy responded to Serhal's letter via e-mail by writing: "I acknowledge receipt of your letter which arrived by e-mail today. I will review the circumstances of your case with the University officials concerned and then I will let you know my decision."

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