Academic dismissed from managing "Middle East Center" at University of Washington for describing Zionism as cancer

Washington – Said Arikat – 4/4/2026

An associate professor at the University of Washington was dismissed from his position as director of the “Middle East Center” after publishing messages via the center’s mailing list that included criticisms of American and Israeli military operations against Iran, and describing Zionism as “cancerous,” according to the “Seattle Times” newspaper.

Arya Fani, a professor at the “Jackson School of International Studies,” explained that he received a notification last week from the school’s director, Daniel Hoffman, of the decision to relieve him of his administrative duties, while retaining his academic position. Fani is currently on sick leave during the current semester.

For its part, the university announced that Hoffman would take over the management of the center during the spring and summer semesters, without providing explanations for the reasons for the decision, citing its commitments related to protecting employee privacy. The student newspaper “The Daily” was the first to reveal the incident.

Fani had taken over the management of the center under a three-year contract starting in 2025, where he oversaw its academic programs and public activities, in addition to community outreach and fundraising efforts.

Fani is from Iran, where he was born and raised before moving to the United States at the age of eighteen. He specializes in teaching modern Persian literature and translation studies. Following the outbreak of the war in Iran, he sent a lengthy message to the center’s mailing list, in which he provided an analysis of the situation, emphasizing that it expressed his personal views.

On March 18, he sent a second message titled “Additional Notes on the War in Iran,” in which he considered that the conflict targets the Iranian state with its various components, accused Israel of committing terrorist acts, and described Zionism as a “malignant tumor.”

Following this message, a pre-supervision mechanism was imposed on the mailing list’s correspondence, which prevented him from publishing new messages. Fani stated that he was unaware of any clear rules governing the use of the list.

According to his account, Hoffman informed him that the content of his messages made some members of the center’s community feel targeted, which made him “unqualified to hold leadership positions.” Requests for comment were referred to the university’s media relations office.

The timing of the decision raised questions for Fani, especially since it came days after statements by university president Robert Jones about a seminar organized by the center on Palestine, during which he stressed the need to manage discussions in a way that does not create an unsafe environment on campus.

The university confirmed that its president was not aware of the dismissal decision in advance and did not participate in making it. In contrast, Fani expressed his disappointment, considering that the move might have a chilling effect on freedom of expression within academic circles.

This issue reflects the growing tension within American universities between freedom of expression and institutional considerations related to a safe and inclusive environment. While universities are supposed to be open spaces for free discussion, administrations face increasing pressure to control discourse that may be interpreted as exclusionary or offensive. In this context, distinguishing between legitimate academic opinion and controversial discourse becomes a complex matter, especially when it comes to sensitive political issues such as the Middle East, where identities and affiliations intertwine with intellectual discussions.

The dismissal decision raises broader questions about the limits of responsibility an academic bears when taking on an administrative position, especially in the context of what is seen as a decline in the margin of freedom of expression within American universities. This debate has escalated against the backdrop of student protests against the Israeli war in Gaza, and the accompanying measures that are sometimes seen as attempts to contain or suppress voices supporting Palestinian rights and calling for an end to the war. These dynamics have increased with Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025.

The incident highlights the interplay of digital and political factors in shaping university decisions, within a changing environment that is witnessing a significant decline in freedom of expression. With the escalation of student protests against the war in Gaza, and increasing media and political pressures, concerns have emerged that some institutional measures aim to limit discourse supporting Palestinian rights and calling for a halt to the war. This trend may have been reinforced by broader political shifts, especially after Donald Trump's return to power, and the accompanying tightening of dealing with student activism.