LONDON: An American law professor is suing his university after it banned him from teaching over comments he made about Israel, The Guardian reported.
Ramsi Woodcock’s lawsuit, filed in federal court against the University of Kentucky, is part of a growing backlash against US universities over a clampdown on pro-Palestine speech and activities.
His suit argues that his first amendment and due process rights were violated when the university placed him under investigation in July, days after he was promoted to full professorship.
The decision was based on allegations that he had violated university policy on anti-discrimination rules.
But those rules are partly based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which has proved highly controversial and is disputed by a range of academics and rights organizations.
