Unia is preparing legal action against Nathan Cofnas, the controversial researcher at Ghent University. Unia is an independent Belgian public body that combats discrimination and promotes equal opportunities. According to the organisation, Cofnas ranks people on the basis of their origin or skin colour and uses scientific arguments to justify this. The organisation claims that as a result he may be in breach of Belgian anti-racism legislation and the UN convention against racial discrimination. Unia intends to take the matter to court.
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Unia draws up complaint against Ghent University researcher Nathan Cofnas
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Nathan Cofnas is an American philosopher who works as a researcher at Ghent University. He describes himself as a ‘racial realist’. His statements and research have been a source of controversy for some time.
In August, Ghent University suspended Cofnas as a precautionary measure. The university also initiated disciplinary proceedings. This followed an online article in which Cofnas accused Jason Arday (pictured below), one of Britain’s few black professors, of plagiarism. Arday subsequently resigned from Cambridge University. Shortly afterwards, he was found dead.
Debate on academic freedom
The case has also sparked a debate about the freedom of academics to conduct research and express their opinions. Around 800 academics signed an open letter, arguing that Ghent University should not have punished Cofnas for his statements.
Ghent University’s rector, Petra De Sutter, defended the university’s approach stating academic freedom remains important to Ghent University.
Ghent University’s disciplinary proceedings are still ongoing. The legal action being taken by Unia is separate from this.