Read on Twitter
1. Take some time to read about the shocking and disappointing events at @UTLaw. A hiring committee unanimously chose @ValentinaAzarov over nearly 10 others to run the school’s justly-celebrated international human rights program. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/09/17/search-for-new-director-of-u-of-t-law-facultys-international-human-rights-program-leads-to-resignations-allegations-of-interference.html
2. Then a sitting judge and alumnus expressed “concern” about Azarova’s work — of course — on behalf of Palestinians. Soon enough, the Dean of the law school, over the objections of the hiring committee, Edward Iacobucci, rescinded Azarova’s offer.
3. A number of international-law scholars wrote to the President of @UofT to register their concern. I was one of them, as I've worked closely with Azarova on Saudi arms transfer issues, know her Palestine advocacy well, and think the world of her. She is scrupulously fair.
4. As the article reports, @UofT claims it never made Azarova an offer, so it did not rescind one. This is what is known as a “lie.” They most certainly made her an offer. And she accepted it. It’s shocking the university would claim otherwise and will blow up in their face.
5. Even worse, @UofT’s idiotic statement inadvertantly admits it isn’t telling the truth. The “cross-border” “legal and technical” constraints mentioned in the statementconcerned the need for Azarova to arrange her work permit!
6. The entire advisory board of the human-rights program has resigned in protest — and rightly so. The search has now been cancelled. If the university doesn’t change course and hire Azarova, it will be catastrophic for the program and for the law school.
7. That would be a genuine shame, because @UTLaw is a fantastic school with some of the world’s best international lawyers. Fingers crossed the powers-that-be end up doing the right thing. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/09/17/search-for-new-director-of-u-of-t-law-facultys-international-human-rights-program-leads-to-resignations-allegations-of-interference.html
8. PS: this is what real #cancelculture looks like. The left gets a few lectures by noxious right-wingers called off (which is wrong!). The right systematically attempts to destroy the career of anyone who has the temerity to criticise #Israel.
