Solidarity with Palestine: Shahidul Alam returns honorary UK university doctorate
Eminent photographer Solidarity Shahidul Alam has returned his honorary doctorate degree from the University of the Arts London for supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestine. ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok
Shahidul awarded the degree in 2022 in recognition of his contribution to advancing the struggle for rights through photography, reads a press release issued by Drik Picture Library Limited yesterday. “At the time of receiving the degree, the University of the Arts London committed to freedom of expression. The students of the university showed solidarity with Palestine and demanded that the university administration support the ceasefire in Gaza. This reassured me,” Shahidul said in the release.
However, this reassurance lost:
When I saw that the administration, especially the current vice-chancellor of the university, has a different position. Students have repeatedly said their voices are silencing. The UK university is a partner in Israel’s occupation, discrimination and ongoing genocide through Israeli or Israeli-affiliated organisations and institutions.”
Given the circumstances, Shahidul no longer wants to be associated with the University of Arts London.
He said he had formally informed the university of returning the honorary doctorate. Shahidul Alam received the degree in 2022 in recognition of his contributions in advancing the struggle for rights through photography.
Solidarity in the release said
“The University of Arts London committed to freedom of expression when I took the degree. Students of this university have shown their solidarity with Palestine. At the same time, they demanded the university administration to support the cease-fire in Gaza. This assured me.”
“But this relief passed when I saw the stance of the administration, especially of the incumbent vice-chancellor of the university, is different. Students have repeatedly saying that their voices are being suppressed. By partnering with Israeli or Israeli-affiliated organisations and institutions, this university of the UK is complicit in Israel’s occupation, apartheid and ongoing genocide,” Shahidul Alam added.
In this context, Shahidul Alam said that he no longer wants to stay connected with the University of Arts London.
He has informed the university formally about returning the “honorary” doctorate degree, he added.
The post Solidarity with Palestine: Shahidul Alam returns honorary UK university doctorate appeared first on The Muslim News.