‘Threat culture’ at JNU’s Center for West Asian Studies: Former seminar coordinator

Canceling seminars with the envoys of Iran, Lebanon and Palestine is a reflection of the ‘culture of threats’ at the Center for West Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the former seminar coordinator who was relieved of her responsibility on October 30 | Photo credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

The cancellation of seminars with the envoys of Iran, Lebanon and Palestine is a reflection of the ‘threat culture’ at the Center for West Asian Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru Universitysaid the former seminar coordinator who was relieved of her responsibility on October 30 in the backdrop of controversy over the seminars. The center is part of the university’s School of International Studies (SIS).

Sima Baidya also said she has filed a complaint against the center’s chairman, Dr. Sameena Hameed, and has sought assurance from the university authorities as she was intimidated by certain colleagues.

“The cancellation of three seminars is a reflection of the prevailing threat culture at the Center for West Asian Studies. Students and teachers like me have been bullied and threatened for quite some time now, more than two and a half years,” Dr. Baidya said in a comment after the center held a seminar on November 7 led by the new seminar coordinator on “ How the US Presidential Election could influence events in West Asia’.

Dr. Baidya formally filed a complaint with the dean, SIS and the public prosecutor against Dr. Hameed and her accused of acting against India’s foreign policy objectives as India and Iran enjoy cordial relations and leaders of both sides met. the sidelines of the last BRICS summit in Kazan. She said the seminars were canceled because she was pressured to do so by her colleagues, including Dr. Hameed.

Dr. Baidya also claimed that after the recent controversy, she has formally requested security from the university authorities.