Where is their outcry?—Mercifully absent
On Francesca Albanese's unwelcome status at German academic institutions
The Alliance for Critical Scholarship in Solidarity, represented by Isabel Feichtner, professor of public law and international economic law at the University of Würzburg, has issued a statement titled "Where is our outcry?" bemoaning the absence of outrage among legal scholars over the disinvitation of UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese. Within just a few days, two universities—LMU Munich and Freie Universität Berlin—canceled her events. The essay reads like a letter of recommendation, lavishly extolling Albanese's academic achievements and the supposed nobility of the organization she represents. Naturally, all criticism leveled against her—particularly in Germany in response to the scheduled events—is dismissed as nothing more than smear campaigns and witch hunts against "someone who defends justice and international law." The accusations against her, which overwhelmingly assert that her statements "meet all criteria of antisemitism," are, of course, conveniently brushed aside. In doing so, the author adopts a rather creative angle in lamenting Albanese's apparent unwelcome status at German academic institutions, leaning, almost comically, on the illusion of moral superiority bestowed by a grand title and the prestige of the institutions behind her.
Upon reading the essay, one cannot help but notice a certain strain of snobbery among those who see themselves as an elite caste, entitled to deference, their presence a privilege that must not be denied. After all, "Francesca Albanese is [a] colleague, […] a globally well-respected scholar of international law who speaks at universities around the world." Naturally, such figures, adorned with lofty titles, ought to be received like "ambassadors from foreign countries." Never mind the overwhelming evidence of Albanese's vile antisemitism and rabid hatred for Israel. The pervasive anti-Israel bias in UN agencies? Not a cause for concern. The author sees no reason to pause for reflection, tragicomically citing sources meant to exonerate Albanese but which, in reality, expose her true colors, such as her direct comparison of Netanyahu to Hitler. The essay, cloaked in a performative display of bewilderment over the lack of outcry, ultimately retreats into a self-serving belief in the infallibility of the legal profession and the moral purity of international institutions, as if possessing legal credentials and the letters 'U' and 'N' in one's professional orbit conferred not just expertise but unimpeachable virtue.
Now, do I find the disinvitations in Munich and Berlin problematic? Yes, I do. My commitment to academic freedom and free expression extends to those whose views I find utterly repugnant, including the relentless Israel-haters who plague academic circles. That is, after all, the very definition of free expression. Universities, in particular, should be spaces where even the most controversial scholarly debates can take place. And yet, in Munich and Berlin, one gets the distinct impression that freedom of expression is a privilege reserved for antisemitic positions, while antisemitism itself is met with anything but serious academic scrutiny. At the same time, it should be obvious that universities also have a duty to prevent the public endorsement of crimes, which, in Germany, is a criminal offense under Section 140 of the Criminal Code. In addition, there is little reason to believe that Albanese's talk offered any genuine scholarly insight or novelty. On both counts, Albanese has consistently demonstrated the opposite of what a university should platform: borderline unlawful rants rather than anything of remote academic value. As Volker Beck, president of the German–Israeli Society, aptly put it, in an academic setting, "for such fringe positions, field sermons are an inappropriate format." So yes, these disinvitations raise legitimate concerns. Personally, I wouldn't have canceled the events; but forgive me if I struggle to muster any regret. Let's be honest: few morally sane individuals will lose sleep over antisemites being denied yet another opportunity to preach their well-worn gospel of Israel hatred. Heaven knows, we are not suffering from a shortage.