University of Adelaide On Dit editor Habibah Jaghoori sacked over anti-Israel article

An Adelaide University student newspaper editor condemned by Jewish groups for writing an article that “incites hatred” has been dumped. Watch her fiery speech to fellow students.

A University of Adelaide student who wrote an article labelled “anti-Semitic” has been sacked from the editorial team of its student magazine.

Media student Habibah Jaghoori had refused to back down since her article was published online by On Dit last month, telling a student meeting she always would stand by her stance of “death to Israel”.

Her public comments at the meeting resulted in a complaint to the university’s student union, YouX, which conducted an internal investigation through its media committee.

Five days ago, Ms Jaghoori wrote another article to commemorate the Queen’s death – saying On Dit paid respect to “every victim of the colonial bloodlust” and “all the lands ... plundered, destroyed and desecrated by the colonial British invasions”.

Habibah Jaghoori’s article about Israeli “ethnic cleansing” made headlines in the Middle East and led local Jewish students to say they felt threatened on campus.

The YouX board met on Tuesday night, where it voted to remove Ms Jaghoori as a member of the four-person team which runs On Dit, published since 1932.

Previous high-profile editors have included politician Natasha Stott Despoja and journalists Annabel Crabb and David Penberthy.

In a statement, YouX said the finding against Ms Jaghoori was not about her article, but her “conduct and behaviour” since its publication.

The article listed incidents of Israeli violence against Palestinians and argued this was “ethnic cleansing”, ending with the line “Free Palestine and Death to Israel”.

“Despite numerous opportunities to clarify her position and dispel any misinterpretation, she has continued to use language in public forums that can be clearly construed to support actions that could threaten the welfare of students,” YouX said.

The Advertiser reported two weeks ago how On Dit had been accused of inciting racism and hatred by publishing the article.

The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) said University of Adelaide students were increasingly becoming scared on campus amid claims of rising anti-Semitic behaviour.

In its statement, the YouX board said Ms Jaghoori, was subject “to the same organisational values as all other representatives and employees of YouX”.

“The committee respects and supports the editorial independence of On Dit editors and does not seek to censor or influence the publication in any way,” it said.

“The findings of the committee are in relation to the continued and sustained behaviour of the editor in question and the manner in which she has chosen to push her point of view in the public domain.

The article on Israel posted online by On Dit writer Habibah Jaghoori. As of today it clicks through to a “page not found” message. Picture: Facebook

“YouX has a mandate to support all students equally and will never condone actions which could be perceived as discriminatory against any individual or group of students.”

YouX said it provided “critical support and services to over 25,000 students at the University of Adelaide which includes students of many varied ethnicities, religions, and identities”.

“We understand that differences of opinion will always exist amongst individuals and groups at an university of our size,” it said.

“We value diversity but advocate for respectful and constructive debate.”

YouX, formerly known as the Adelaide University Union, has been the subject of considerable debate by students, who have been critical of its new branding.

It has come under fire for imposing bans on any of its officeholders from criticising its new name, which is similar to an international pornography site.

The branding of the former Adelaide University Union has changed to YouX.

There also have been ongoing political divisions between left-wing and right-wing factions within the organisation.

Elections for the YouX board and its various bodies, including the four-person On Dit editorial team, were held last month, with new appointments due to become effective in December.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry said it welcomed the YouX board’s decision to sack Ms Jaghoori.

Co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said it was a “decisive repudiation of the violent, hate-filled rhetoric against Israel and the Jewish people which masquerades as free speech”.

Mr Wertheim praised Jewish students at the university who had stood up against the article published by On Dit.

“There is something clearly wrong with a campus culture that produces the kind of discourse we saw published in On Dit, and the university bears ultimate responsibility for the culture it fosters on its campus,” he said.

“We look forward to the university itself taking action specifically to address antisemitism on campus.”

Comment was sought from Ms Jaghoor.