The president of the University of Alberta says the school has replaced the director of its sexual assault centre over its endorsement of an open letter that questions the validity of sexual assault claims against Hamas during its deadly incursion into Israel last month.
Bill Flanagan issued a statement on Saturday saying the director’s personal views “do not in any way represent those of the University of Alberta, and the use of the centre’s name in endorsing the letter was “improper and unauthorized.”
A spokeswoman for the university confirms the letter Flanagan referred to criticizes Canadian political leaders for what it described as being complicit in Israel’s “killing” of Palestinians in Gaza.
It also criticizes NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, claiming he “repeated the unverified accusation that Palestinians were guilty of sexual violence.”
Israeli authorities have said they are investigating several cases of sexual assault and rape during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that killed an estimated 1,200 people.
On Tuesday, Israel’s national police chief showed a small group of international reporters video testimony from an eyewitness at a music festival in southern Israel who described…
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