Open Letter from Oxford students, teachers, scholars, staff members, and alumni to VC Louise Richardson

On 16 October 2020, Samuel Paty, a 47-year old middle-school teacher, was killed and beheaded in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, France. He was murdered for teaching a class of 13 and 14 year-old pupils about freedom of speech and tolerance, using a pair of Charlie Hebdo cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The response to their original publication was the terrorist attack on 7 January 2015, in which 12 people were slaughtered. In order to cater to individual sensitivities, the teacher invited students of any creed or origin who might feel offended to take a break from his class.

Shortly after his lesson, Samuel Paty was threatened by some of the students’ parents. The Ministry of National Education did not intervene, despite being notified of the issue. Some of his own colleagues chose to participate in Samuel Paty’s defamation and divulged private information about him. And as the official investigation following Samuel Paty’s slaughter has shown, one of the parents posted a video condemning the teacher, and communicated with his murderer several times before the terrorist attack.

In the days that followed, individual scholars, research institutions, and French universities condemned Samuel Paty’s murder. In the UK, by contrast, the silence of universities and teachers’ unions has been deafening. There has been, to this day, no official response from the National Education Union, the National Union of Journalists, the University and College Union, Universities UK, or the Index of Censorship, whose task is to defend freedom of expression. The University of Oxford was no exception: no statement was issued, no support was offered to students who might have been traumatised by the event.

Since 2015 and the attacks against Charlie Hebdo, tensions in France have steadily increased. This year, a series of violent murders have profoundly shocked people around the world. Even among these acts, the murder of Samuel Paty stands as a particular warning to students, teachers, and scholars; it is a direct threat towards those of us who would carry out our mission to transmit knowledge and to uphold freedom of speech. The silence of the foreign universities in response is deeply troubling. We look up to our university as a place that stands up not only for its own members, defends their rights and welfare, but also supports the rights of the academic community altogether. Given its tradition of free inquiry and global reputation, the University of Oxford has a wider duty towards those learning, teaching, and researching, wherever they are.

We, current students and teachers, as well as alumni, are calling on the University of Oxford to make a public commitment to the defense of free speech, in Britain, France, and around the world. To condemn unequivocally those who would use force or intimidation to stifle research and education. To stand in solidarity with academics who face threats of genuine violence. And ultimately, to live up to the purpose of a university in doing so.

Click here to add your signature to this letter or follow this link:

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Signatures:

Lola Salem, St John’s, DPhil Music (2021)

Sam Ashworth-Hayes, Balliol, MPhil Economics (2018)

Anna Lukina, Herford, BA, BCL (2019)

Fred de Fossard, Magdalen, BA (2014)

Alex Mason, Balliol, DPhil Particle Physics (2021)

Jason Pilkington, St Edmund Hall, Law (2018)

Asher Berkowitz-Werner, Lincoln, MPhil Economics (2019)

Jean-Christophe Spiliotis, Oriel, MPhil Economics (2021)

Marc Pacitti, Balliol, BA, Philosophy, Politics and Economics / MPhil Economics (2018)

Jane Cooper, New College, MST English 1550-1700 (2021)

Helen Dale, Brasenose, BCL (2008)

Anna Richards, Kellogg, MPhil British and European History 1500-Present (2019)

Nathan Stone, Corpus Christi, BA History and Politics (2019)

Jessica Rushton, Oriel, MSt (2019)

Tom Brewis, St Hugh’s, European Politics and society (2019)

Luke Sheridan, Oriel, Law (2019)

Marcel Stolz, Oriel, DPhil (2021)

George Hargrave, Hertford, PPE (2021)

Vincent Roy-Di Piazza, Linacre, DPhil History of science (2021)

Guy Cabral, Oriel, Jurisprudence (2020)

John Ritzema, Oriel, BA MPhil (2016)

Maximilian Lau, St Benet’s Hall, History (2016)

Faaris Zaki, Hertford, Medicine (2021)

Myriam Frenkel, Exeter, BA, MSt, DPhil (2018)

Jim Fellows, Queen’s, Music (2020)

Jesper Akesson, St Cross, MPhil Economics (2018)

Yuan Yi Zhu, Nuffield, DPhil International Relations (2021)

Mark Gilbert, Exeter & BNC, MPhil & DPhil Math (2012)

Cosima Gillhammer, Christ Church, DPhil (2020)

Gorge Palmer, Hertford, BA History (2021)

Rachael Bolland, Magdalen, PPE (1994)

Calum Johnstone, Balliol, Physics (2012)

Chris Keenam, BSC Hons (2002)

Matthew Wheeler, University of Chester, Business Management (2021)

Andrew Duckwith, Queen’s, Met Medieval History (2013)

Christopher Lazowski, MA (1997)

Kevin Laitak, MA Hons Film Tv: History (1992)

James Strachan, GTC, Medicine (2021)

Mike Howlett, UWL, PhD (2009)

Maria Bring, LLM (2004)

Richard Ingham, Exeter, Mod Langs (1975)

Júlia Suñé, UPF, Humanities (2025)

Andrew Cordell, St Edmund Hall, MA (1978)

Adam Tozzi, Pembroke, Modern History (2008)

Geren Abraham, Merton, Maths (1991)

Hannah Towndrow, Hertford, BA Music (2019)

David Passey, St Hugh’s, Physics (2002)

Calvin Chan, Balliol, DPhil Philosophy (2022)

Louise Perry, Somerville, MSt Women’s Studies (2017)

Alistair Mitchell, Balliol, Classics (2013)

Victoria Whitelaw Bolton, MSc International Management (2017)

Susan Mannall, Psychology (2023)

Leia Yaniv, Msc Gender and International Relations (2018)

Euan McGivern, Oriel, Medicine (2021)

Santiago Bedoya-Pardo, Regent’s Park College, History and Politics (2022)

Sarah Rich, Post-doctorat

Kitty Wheater, Somerville [MA], St Hilda’s [MPhil], St Cross [DPhil] (2010)

Ray Millard, Greenwich, B. Ed (2019)

Sally Lea, Natural sciences (2004)

Christopher Keogh, Loughborough, Economics (2004)

Laura McNeill, Brasenose, Classics (2013)

Elaine Oliver (1999)

Claire Deligny, Oriel / Jesus, PhD (2016)

Abdel Wahab Turkmani, Oriel, MSc (2017)

Edward Shields, Oriel, MPhil Physics (2019)

César Manivet, Oriel, Theology and Religion (2017)

Vincent Gailly, Music (2020)

Samuel Maginnins, Magdalen, BA Jurisprudence (2007)

Jonathan Price, Oriel, DPhil Law (2021)

George Fountain, Oriel, Classics (2018)

William Orr-Ewing, Oriel, Modern History (2006)

Ryan Blank, Oriel, MSt (2019)

James McKee, Exeter, Physics (2019)

Estella Kessler, Brasenose, DPhil Classical Languages (2022)

Sharang Sharma, Oriel, MSt (2020)

Prudence Dailey, Merton, MA (1988)

Harry Gwynne, St Hugh’s, Archaeology and Anthropology (2008)

David Graham, St John’s, MBA (2019)

Chris Heitzig, Oriel, MPhil Economics (2018)

Ellen Pasternack, Keble, Zoology (2022)

Paul Ballard-Whyte, Cherwell (2005)

Sam Speight, Oriel, DPhil Computer Science (2021)

Ellen Pasternack, Keble, Zoology (2022)

Rachel Coombes, St John’s, DPhil History of Art (2022)

Fiona Jelley, Brasenose, DPhil (2022)

Émi Matsuoka, Wadham, DPhil (2021)

Mathilda Rhode, Oriel, PPE (2014)

Isabella Clarke, Balliol, DPhil English (2024)

Eleanor Thomson, Oriel, DPhil Environmental Science (2021)

Innes Taylor, Oriel, PPE (2014)

Martin Dowdall, Pembroke, BA Hons MML (2011)

Philip Aspin, Corpus Christi, BA (2008)

David Mankin, Christ Church, MA Modern History (1977)

Nina Benz, Brasenose, MJur (2021)

Joshua Cobler, Brasenose, MPhil Politics (2022)

Ben Kibblewhite, Christ Church, French and Spanish (2022)

Matthew Kirtley, St Anne’s, PPE (2018)

Marcus Walker, Oriel, Modern History (2002)

Timothy Watkin, Magdalen College, DPhil (1993)

Emily Tuck, Corpus Christi & St Stephen’s House, BA in Literae Humaniores & MSt in Late Antique & Byzantine Studies (2016)

Mickael Maazoun, Department of Statistics, PhD (2020)

Gavin McCormick, Brasenose, DPhil Ancient History (2013)

Stephen Crossley, Hertford, MA Engineering, Economics and Management (1986)

Richard Graham, Oriel, MSt. English (2013)

James Price, Worcester, MA (2013)

Timothy Morris, New College, MA & DPhil (1992)

Jan Preiss, New College, Literae Humaniores (2022)

Tim Bennett, St Peter’s, PPE (2006)

Nick Wheatley, Department of continuing Education, Undergraduate Diploma in English Social and Local History (2022)

Sophie Gleize, Kellogg College, MSc Nature, Society and Environmental Policy (2014)

Claire Baillie, Magdalen, Literae Humaniores (2014)

Pawel Puczkarski, Oriel, DPhil (2018)

Jonathan Newham, St John’s, Modern History (1989)

Gavin Kelly, Magdalen, MPhil & DPhil (2002)

Joel Butler, Brasenose, DPhil History (2021)

Thomas Crowley, Wadham, BA Oriental Studies (2012)

Kryštof Jirků, Christ Church, PPE (2021)

Matthew Collier, Oriel, BPhil in Philosophy (2018)

Maxence Draguet, Lincoln, DPhil Particle Physics (2024)

Jan Preiss, New College, History (1962)

Caroline Jackson, Merton, English (1992)

M. C., Trinity, DPhil (2021)

Alice Hopkinson-Woolley, Exeter, Modern Languages (2022)

Aoife Ni Chroidheain, St Hugh’s, DPhil Modern Languages (2022)

Simon Peatman, St John’s, Physics (2010)

James Orr, Balliol & Christ Church, BA Literae Humaniores (2001)

Joseph Hipgrave, Magdalen, BA (Hons) PPP (1991)

Llewelyn Morgan, Brasenose, BA (1990)

Bijan Omrani, Lincoln, BA (2001)

Clare Schultzer-Weissmann, Balliol, BA (2011)

Livia Fries, Brasenose, MSc Politics (2021)

Milan Czerny, St Antony’s, MPhil Russian Studies (2022)

Dan Grinevics, St Antony’s, MSc Global Governance (2021)

Rose Gilberg, Somerville, BA Hons Modern History (1978)

Michael Goldberg, Christ Church, BA Hons, MA Classics (1966)

William Robinson, Regent Park & Wolfson, BA Theology & MSt Theology (2021)

Rushabh Haria, St Anne’s, Literae Humaniores (2017)

Jaspreet Singh Boparai, Corpus Christi, BA Literae Humaniores (2006)

Andy Mayer, Brasenose, POE (1997)

Ben Horan, Magdalen, MA History (2002)

Esther Fernandez-Llorente, Worcester, History (2002)

Ivan Hewett, Magdalen, BA (1979)

Andrew Doyle, Wadham, DPhil (2004)

Lucas Kiely, Brasenose, Biochemistry (19??)

Henrik Tiemroth, Hertford, MPhil (2022)

George Turner, Worcester, MSt Film Aesthetics (2021)

Florence Everitt, UBC, UBC (1976)

Alexander Caro, St Cross, MSc Education (2017)

Jeremy Stubbs, Magdalen, MA & DPhil (1982)

John Carver, Christ Church, BA Chemistry (1982)

Joshua Rey, Balliol / Cuddesdon, BA, MA/BA, MSt (1988)

Ben Williams, Wadham, BA Classics & Modern Languages (1992)

Philip Cunliffe, Somerville, PPE (2002)

Jacob Reynolds, St Cross, BPhil Philosophy (2015)

Paul Lever, Queen’s, MA Literae Humaniores (1966)

James Hopkinson-Woolley, Trinity, MSc (1992)

Oliver Dunn, St Antony’s, MPhil Modern Middle Eastern Studies (2022)

Pratinav Anil, St John’s, DPhil Oriental Studies (2021)

Ciaran Crowley, St Edmund Hall, DPhil Astrophysics (2015)

Sky Stephenson, All Souls, Philosophy (2016)

Jacob MacKenzie, St Peter’s, Philosophy and Theology (2018)

George Peter Martyr Scott, Keble, MA (2020)

Pete Conroy, Fine Arts (2003)

David Holliday, Psychology (2001)

Annamaria Dunlopl, St Anne’s, MA English Language & Literature (1961)

Giles Vicat, Christ Church, MA Literae Humaniores (1980)

Martin Loinig, St Antony’s, Comparative Social Policy (2021)

John-Henry Whapham, St Antony’s, MSc Education (2021)

Oliver Buckingham, Lady Margaret Hall, BA History and Politics (2023)

Juhi Kore, St Antony’s, MPhil Comparative Social Policy (2021)

Tim Salmon, University College (1963)

Anthony Orr, St John’s, MA Jurisprudence (1972)

Michael Biggs, St Cross, PhD (2000)

Liam Whitton, Balliol, English (2011)

Sean Roy, Social Science (2015)

Emily Lygo, Wolfson, MSc Sociology (2012)

Alexander Marr, Queen’s, DPhil (2008)

Roger Teichmann, St Hilda’s, MA & DPhil (1986)

Colin West, St Anne’s, BA & BCL (1997)

Ann Dowker, St Hilda’s, BA (1982)

Charles Lewis, Oriel, Classics & Law (1962)

Rayhan Rashid, Wilson, DPhil (2013)

Steve Gillett, BA English (1986)

Therese Feiler, Exeter, DPhil (2013)

John Roberts II, Keble, MA PPE (1978)

Julian Jamison, Nuffield, PhD (1984)

Tim Williams, Merton, PPE (1985)

David Critchley, Balliol, MA (1978)

Rory Geoghegan, Trinity, PPE (2007)

Rosemary Barnett, Queen’s, PPE (2011)

Nicholas Kaplan, Queen’s, PPE (2010)

Aleksandra Buhl Thostrup, Magdalen, BA English Language and Literature (2012)

David Parrott, New College, DPhil (1980)

Elaine Hunt, St Hilda’s & Linacre, BA (1973)

Graham Catlin, Exeter, BA History (1979)

Jack McClure, St Anne’s, Law (2021)