The director and associate director of Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies are stepping down, The New York Times reported Saturday, following criticism of the department's alleged anti-Israel bias and as the university faces heightened federal scrutiny over antisemitism on campus.
The departures of Cemal Kafadar, a professor of Turkish studies, and Rosie Bsheer, a historian of the Middle East, come amid broader tensions surrounding academic freedom, political discourse and campus climate.
According to the report, the two were asked by Hopi Hoekstra, dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, to prepare to discuss how their programs aligned with university goals of ideological diversity and respectful engagement with controversial topics.
James Chisholm, a spokesperson for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, declined to comment, calling the matter personal.