A UNVERSITY has been criticised for a “discriminatory” decision to cancel an art exhibition on the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza at the last minute.
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) told organisers the exhibition scheduled for the Moray School of Art gallery in Elgin would be pulled as it could be seen as endorsing a "particular viewpoint without any balance".
It was due to feature works by Israeli, Palestinian and UK-based artists.
Among those whose work was due to be on shown at the exhibition - named 'Opening of a Fragile Pot' - was Mike Marcus, who grew up in Tel Aviv, and has been described as "Israel's answer to Banksy" by Time Out magazine.
Palestinian artist Feda'a Al-Hassanet – who is currently trapped in Gaza – was also set to have her work on display.
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The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called on the university to reverse its “reprehensible” decision and be on the “right side of history”.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “It is reprehensible that educational institutions in Scotland are actively working to silence Palestinian voices, or indeed those seeking to put a spotlight on the horrific situation in Gaza.
“This is not balance, this is a sinister attempt to silence the remaining starved voices coming from Gaza.
“We call on UHI to reverse its discriminatory decision to deplatform Palestinian artists and to be on the right side of history during genocide.
“It is shameful that this discriminatory decision in an educational establishment comes just a week after the landmark decision in the employment tribunal of Professor David Miller of Bristol University, last week, which concluded that the professor’s anti-Zionist views qualify as a protected belief under the UK Equality Act.”
Artist-curator Georgina Porteous has been forced to find an alternative venue and said the exhibition will now be held at WASPS Links Studios in Nairn. The show is running from Saturday until the end of the month.
It is set to raise funds for Al-Hassanet who “like everyone in Gaza, is slowly being starved by Israel”.
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She insisted that after the International Court of Justice’s ruling of ‘plausible’ genocide in Gaza, it seemed “absurd” the university considered the exhibition could be partisan.
“Rather than our exhibition being partisan, it seems that the UHI authorities themselves are acting in a very partial fashion ignoring the ICJ and insisting that there should be ‘balance’ when addressing the slaughter of men, women and children on an unprecedented scale,” she said.
SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford, who once worked at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, said she was disappointed with UHI’s move, insisting the artworks could have put more spotlight onto suffering in Gaza.
She told The National: “It is a disappointing decision to cancel this exhibition, which included an artist from Israel as well as Gaza, at such short notice.
“There was a justified outpouring of shock and sympathy for Israel, after the appalling attack on civilians by Hamas on the October 7, but the whole world is now watching the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.
“Despite this, western leaders and media do not treat the deaths of Gazans with the same horror - sometimes it takes art to cut through and make us really consider what we are seeing.
“Gazans are not just numbers: a Palestinian life has the same worth to their loved ones and community as an Israeli life, and the ongoing slaughter in Gaza will not bring security or peace - for either community.”
A UHI spokesperson said: “As a college community, we have been watching events in the Middle East unfold with growing concern for all of those involved, on both sides, and in line with previous conflicts, we recognise that this one has an impact on staff, students and those within the wider Moray community we serve.
"Our art gallery is regularly used for exhibitions that can both articulate and challenge perceptions on a range of issues, and as an educational institution we welcome that.
"The college only recently became fully aware though that some of the promotional material for this event makes reference to what could be regarded as a partisan viewpoint.
"Our aim as a registered charity is to promote learning, teaching and research activities in an inclusive way that includes supporting academic freedoms, and artistic expression.
"The college hosting this event though could be seen as endorsing a particular viewpoint without any balance and as a result, the planned Art exhibition 'Opening of a Fragile Pot' has now been cancelled and will no longer take place at UHI Moray."
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