We refuse the so-called Palestine Exception, a term referring to how public discourse and the law are
manipulated to deny Palestinian human rights, and to silence anyone who advocates for them.

As institutions dedicated to the production of knowledge and discourse, media and education remain
central in the enactment and refusal of the Palestine Exception, forcing us as critically engaged educators
to take a position one way or the other.i Ours is to refuse; we will not be silenced. Worsening and
widespread examples of anti-Palestinian bias in higher education highlight the role of universities as key
sites of struggle in the movement for Palestinian rights.

A landmark 2015 report by (non-profit legal organization) Palestine Legal, The Palestine Exception to
Free Speech, documents the rampant censoring and/ or punishing of speech by students and scholars
supportive of Palestine in the United States. Subsequent research in Canada—for example, Unveiling the
Chilly Climate (IJV, 2022); “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free”: A Primer on History,
Context and Legalities in Canada (Hearing Palestine Initiative, U of T, 2023); and Surveilled and
Silenced: A Report on Palestine Solidarity at York University (Race Equity Caucus, York U, 2024); —
make clear the “worrisome prevalence of harassment and suppression of speech on Palestine on
campuses and in Canadian civil society” and analyze the impact of such repression on “governmental,
institutional and individual decision making” (IJV, 2022).
The Palestine Exception represents a decades-long organized campaign to suppress pro-Palestinian
speech. Tactics used to silence advocacy for Palestinian rights include falsely accusing activists of being
uncivil, divisive, antisemitic, and/ or supporting terrorism. Genuine dialogue about
At its most basic, the Palestine Exception
manifests as the refusal to even say the words “Palestine” and “Palestinian.” Palestine and Palestinian rights is further impeded through the promotion of narratives that lack context,
that impose false conditions on human rights, and that question the morality, honesty and sanity of
Palestinians and their supporters. Institutions often enact the Palestine Exception through subverting
typical policies and procedures and applying special, less transparent standards when it comes to Palestine
and Palestinians, requiring additional rules, bureaucracy, oversight, and “security” measures. Particularly
as seen in response to the BDS movement and the movement to end the escalated genocide since 2023,
many Canadian institutions are explicit in disproportionately denouncing, disallowing and punishing pro-
Palestine organizing and activism, including through legal threats and criminalization. The suppression of
speech on Palestine has significant consequences in academia, where it threatens principles of academic
freedom and encourages surveillance of critical intellectuals and activists and of the oppositional
knowledge that we produce. The suppression of speech on Palestine has more-than-significant, deadly
consequences for Palestinians, who are being denied not only their academic freedom and rights to
education, but their basic needs and rights to life. “Before the genocide,” explains Refaat Ibrahim, “the
education sector in Gaza was thriving. Despite the occupation and blockade, we had one of the highest
literacy rates in the world, reaching 97 percent. The enrolment rate in secondary education was 90
percent, and the enrolment in higher education was 45 percent.
”ii By June 2025, a UN Independent
International Commission of Inquiry reported that Israeli state forces have “used airstrikes, shelling,
burning, and controlled demolitions to damage or destroy more than 90 per cent of schools and university
buildings across Gaza.”iii

In the past two years, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been murdered, and
hundreds of thousands have been injured in Israeli attacks. In August 2025, the genocide continues, with
ongoing military bombardment, settler attacks, repeated displacement, and widespread forced starvation.
As Refaat Ibrahim reminds us, education has been an unshakable priority and commitment for
Palestinians; a way to reconstitute Palestinian lives and futures beyond the Nakba and occupation:

For Gaza’s students, education was never just about getting an academic certificate or an official
paper. It was about optimism and courage, it was a form of resistance against the Israeli
occupation, and a chance to lift their families out of poverty and improve their circumstances.
Education was life and hope.

As educators we share this vision of education and share a responsibility to act in optimism and courage
and in resistance to the occupation and the ongoing genocide. Silence is not an option. As members of
Faculty for Palestine Canada and allied educators we continue to insist:

Universities and colleges across Canada have a responsibility to ensure that all their members are
free from censorship, violence, intimidation, doxxing, harassment, and bullying. Universities also
have the responsibility of protecting and promoting the right to academic freedom and freedom of
speech on their campuses.

Faculty for Palestine demands that Canadian Universities uphold academic freedom, freedom of
speech, and end all collaborations with Israel.iv

We will continue to learn about Palestine from Palestinians.
We will make sure that Palestinian students, like all students in our classrooms and under our
supervision, are treated with sincerity and respect.
We will continue to advocate—as professors, workers, scholars, and community members—for
the rights of Palestinians and for a free Palestine.
We will refuse the Palestine Exception.

WE WILL NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT PALESTINE.

i Regarding the Canadian media, see for examples, Davide Mastracci
https://www.readthemaple.com/uncovering-canadian-medias-devastating-pro-israel-bias/; and Pacinthe
Mattar https://j-source.ca/moving-past-the-palestine-exception/ 

ii https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/4/19/gaza-had-educational-justice-now-the-genocide-has-
wiped-that-out-too

iii https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164191

iv https://faculty4palestine.ca/statements/faculty-for-palestine-demands-end-to-genocidal-attack-on-gaza/

The international academic boycott is an important part of the 2005 call from Palestinian Civil Society for
“Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel until it complies with International Law and Universal
Principles of Human Rights”. Please see more information and the PACBI guidelines at
https://bdsmovement.net/academic-boycott and https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi/academic-boycott-
guidelines

If you have not yet signed on to the Educators Pledge and would like to, please complete the form at:

https://forms.gle/6PETxrS7Z3DgHPG46 .The list of signatories will be updated periodically.

Organizations
1. Academics and Staff for Palestine-Concordia University
2. Anti-Oppression Resources (community-based group/ independent scholars)
3. Doctors Against Genocide
4. Educators for Palestine GTA
5. Faculty for Palestine – University of Toronto
6. Faculty for Palestine (F4P National)
7. Faculty for Palestine, Regina chapter
8. Queen’s Faculty and Staff for Palestine
9. SFU Faculty for Palestine
10. Teachers for Palestine Saskatchewan
11. The Vancouver Island Chapter of the Jewish Faculty Network

Educators

1. A.W. Peet, University of Toronto (university professor)

2. Abeer Omar (university professor)

3. Abigail B. Bakan (university professor)

4. Adam Rahman MD MSc FRCPC, Western University (university professor)

5. Aditya Khetan (university professor)

6. Adrian Blackwell, University of Waterloo (university professor)

7. Adrien Crossman, McMaster University (university professor)

8. Ahmad Salman (university professor)

9. Ahmed Ala (a community-based educator/ independent scholar)

10. Aimen Moussaddy, McGill University (university professor)

11. Alec Brookes, Memorial University (university professor)

12. Alejandro I. Paz, University of Toronto (university professor)

13. Alejandro Pérez Ordóñez; Junta de Andalucía (Spain) (high school teacher)

14. Ali Iqbal (university professor)

15. Alina Sajed, Political Science, McMaster University (university professor)

16. Amanda Glasbeek, York University (university professor)

17. Amber Nuyens (university professor)

18. Amer Shalaby; University of Toronto (university professor)

19. Amilah Baksh, Wilfrid Laurier University (university professor)

20. Amin Asfari (university professor)

21. Amina Jamal, Toronto Metropolitan University (university professor)

22. Andrew Woolford; University of Manitoba (university professor)

23. Anita Girvan, Associate Professor, University of Victoria (university professor)

24. Ann Marie Beals (university professor)

25. Anna Zalik (university professor)

26. Anne-Emanuelle Birn, University of Toronto (university professor)

27. Anne-Marie Singh; Toronto Metropolitan University (university professor)

28. Anonymous (college professor)

29. Anonymous (college professor)

30. Anonymous (community-based educator / independent scholar)

31. Anonymous (community-based educator / independent scholar)

32. Anonymous (community-based educator / independent scholar)

33. Anonymous (elementary school teacher)

34. Anonymous (elementary school teacher)

35. Anonymous (elementary school teacher)

36. Anonymous (elementary school teacher)

37. Anonymous (elementary school teacher)

38. Anonymous (elementary school teacher)

39. Anonymous (elementary school teacher)

40. Anonymous (elementary school teacher)

41. Anonymous (high school teacher)

42. Anonymous (high school teacher)

43. Anonymous (high school teacher)

44. Anonymous (Justice and Freedom for Palestine!!) (elementary school teacher)

45. Anonymous (university professor)

46. Anonymous (university professor)

47. Anonymous (university professor)

48. Anonymous (university professor)

49. Anonymous (university professor)

50. Anonymous 888 (elementary school teacher and community-based educator / independent scholar)

51. Anonymous for fear of reprisal, McMaster University (university professor)

52. Anonymous gr. 7 teacher (elementary school teacher)

53. Anonymous on behalf of a family of educators for fear of reprisal from McMaster University, Humber College and the Trump administration (university professor; college professor; community-based educator / independent scholar)

54. Anonymous, Carleton University (university professor)

55. Anonymous, McMaster University (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

56. Anonymous, McMaster University (university professor)

57. Anonymous, School of Dentistry, University of Alberta (university professor)

58. Anonymous, TMU (university professor)

59. Anonymous, University of Alberta (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

60. Anonymous, University of Toronto (university professor)

61. Anonymous, University of Toronto Scarborough (university professor)

62. Anonymous, University of Toronto Temerty School of Medicine (university professor)

63. Anonymous, York University (university professor)

64. Anonymous, York University (university professor)

65. Anonymous, York University (university professor)

66. Anonymous; University of Waterloo (university professor)

67. Anup Grewal, University of Toronto Scarborough (university professor)

68. Arul Shankar (university professor)

69. Arwyn Carpenter (elementary school teacher)

70. Asmaa Hussain, UWO, Paediatrics (university professor)

71. Asmaa Younis (university professor; elementary school teacher)

72. Audra Mitchell, Wilfrid Laurier University (university professor)

73. Aurélia Kalisky; Centre Marc Bloch, Berlin (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

74. Ayesha Siddiqua, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University (university professor)

75. Aysha Shamsuddin (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

76. b.h. Yael (university professor)

77. Baher Abdulhai (university professor)

78. Barry Eidlin, McGill University (university professor)

79. Basit Kareem Iqbal, McMaster University (university professor)

80. Basma Dabbagh (university professor)

81. Basma Dabbagh, Université de Montréal (university professor)

82. Bernard Hammond (community-based educator / independent scholar)

83. Beyhan Farhadi, University of Toronto (university professor)

84. Brent Saccucci, Faculty of Education, University of Lethbridge (university professor)

85. Brianna McKelvie, University of Ottawa (university professor)

86. Bryn King, University of Toronto (university professor)

87. Catherine Clase, Professor of Medicine, McMaster University (university professor)

88. Catherine Vanner, University of Windsor (university professor)

89. Charles Levkoe, Lakehead University (university professor)

90. Chaw-win-is, member of Nuu-chah-nulth nations, Royal Roads University (university professor)

91. Cheryl Gaster, Human Rights Lawyer (Retired) (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

92. Christophe Chowanietz (college professor)

93. Christopher Powell, Toronto Metropolitan University (university professor)

94. Coco Lee (high school teacher)

95. Cory Legassic (college professor)

96. Daniel Coleman (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

97. Daniel Robinson, Western University (university professor)

98. Daniel Rosenbaum, MD, FRCPC, University of Toronto (university professor)

99. Daniel Scott Tysdal (university professor)

100. Danielle Bobker, Concordia University (university professor)

101. Dasantila Golemi (university professor)

102. Dave Perks (community-based educator / independent scholar)

103. David Heap, University of Western Ontario (university professor)

104. David Kahane, Political Science, University of Alberta (university professor)

105. David Leadbeater (university professor)

106. Deborah Cowen, University of Toronto (university professor)

107. Derek Silva, King’s University College (university professor)

108. Derek Woods, McMaster (university professor)

109. Devon Smither, University of Lethbridge (university professor)

110. Diethard Bohme (university professor)

111. Dr Hanan Ahmed (university professor)

112. Dr. A. Taher Ghouse, Faculty of Medicine, McMaster University (university professor)

113. Dr. Andrew Stevens (university professor)

114. Dr. Anjali Menezes, McMaster University (university professor)

115. Dr. Emily Eaton (university professor)

116. Dr. Heidi Matthews, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (university professor)

117. Dr. Jasmin Zine, Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University (university professor)

118. Dr. Jennifer Brant, OISE, University of Toronto (university professor)

119. Dr. Jennifer Turnbull (university professor)

120. Dr. Karen Balcom, McMaster University (university professor)

121. Dr. Laurie Harding, UVic School of Public Health and Social Policy (university professor)

122. Dr. Lila Pine, Toronto Metropolitan University (university professor)

123. Dr. Litsa Chatzivasileiou, UBC (university professor)

124. Dr. Mohamad Elfakhani, Western University (university professor)

125. Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, Dalhousie University (university professor)

126. Dr. Roxanne Panchasi, Simon Fraser University (university professor)

127. Dr. Suzanne Shoush, University of Toronto (university professor)

128. Dror WARSCHAWSKI, UQAM (university professor)

129. E So (Anonymous) (elementary school teacher)

130. E. Natalie Rothman, University of Toronto (university professor)

131. Elaine McIlwraith, UWO, UTM (university professor)

132. Elena Basile (university professor)

133. Elisha Lim; York University (university professor)

134. Ellen Badone, McMaster University (university professor, emerita)

135. Elliot Kerr (college professor)

136. Elliot Montpellier, Simon Fraser University (university professor)

137. Eman Almehdawe, University of Regina (university professor)

138. Fayaz Chagani (high school teacher)

139. Felipe Pareja (elementary school teacher)

140. Fizza Mir, York University (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

141. Foziah Elamad (high school teacher)

142. Gabrielle Inglis, MD MMSc CCFP, McMaster University (university professor)

143. Gada Mahrouse, Simone de Beauvoir Institute, Concordia University (university professor)

144. Ghassan Zabaneh, University of Alberta (university professor)

145. Greg Albo (university professor)

146. Gregory Gillis (high school teacher)

147. Hassanali Kapasi (university professor)

148. Ila Varma, University of Toronto (university professor)

149. Inder S. Marwah, McMaster University (university professor)

150. J M Shires (librarian)

151. Jaclyn Wong (elementary school teacher; community-based educator / independent scholar)

152. Jacob Tsimerman, University of Toronto, (university professor)

153. Jaime Veve (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

154. James S. Quinn, McMaster University (university professor)

155. Jane Ku, University of Windsor (university professor)

156. Jane Mah Hutton; UWaterloo (university professor)

157. Jas Rault, University of Toronto (university professor)

158. Jason Laurendeau, Sociology, University of Lethbridge (university professor)

159. Jeff Bale, University of Toronto (university professor)

160. Jennie Vengris, McMaster University, university professor

161. Jennifer Cypher (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

162. Jennifer Long, Anthropology, MacEwan University (university professor)

163. Jess Notwell, King’s University College at Western University (university professor)

164. Jillian Rogin, University of Windsor (university professor)

165. Joan Marek (elementary school teacher)

166. Joe Kelly (university professor)

167. Jon Jureidini, University of Adelaide (university professor)

168. Joseph Hill, University of Alberta (university professor)

169. Josh Connauton (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

170. Joshua Sealy-Harrington, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law (university professor)

171. Julie Young (university professor)

172. Kai Butterfield (elementary school teacher)

173. Kaitrin Doll (university professor)

174. Kanishka Goonewardena, University of Toronto (university professor)

175. Karyn Ball, University of Alberta (university professor)

176. Kate Cushon; University of Regina (librarian)

177. Katherine Boothe, PhD, McMaster University (university professor)

178. Katie Banon (college professor)

179. Katy Kalemkerian, John Abbott College (college professor)

180. Keighlagh Donovan (university professor)

181. Kerry Scott, Faculty of Health, York University (university professor)

182. Ketan Vegda, University of Toronto (university professor)

183. Kevin A. Gould, Concordia University (university professor)

184. Kevin Moloney, York University (university professor)

185. Khaled Abou El Fadl, UCLA School of Law (university professor)

186. Khurram Khan, McMaster University (university professor)

187. Kim Tran (high school teacher)

188. Kimberlee Staking (college professor)

189. Kimberly A. Williams, Women’s and Gender Studies, Mount Royal University (university professor)

190. Kirsten Francescone, Trent University (university professor)

191. L. Fitting (university professor)

192. Léa Ravensbergen (university professor)

193. Leila Bdeir (college professor)

194. Lesley Wood, York University (university professor)

195. Lilian Robinson MD CCFP(PC), Family Medicine, Queens University (university professor)

196. Lisa D. Brush (university professor)

197. LJ Slovin, University of Victoria (university professor)

198. Lonnie Pyne; McMaster University (university professor)

199. Lori Beckstead, Toronto Metropolitan University (university professor)

200. Louise Harrington; University of Alberta (university professor)

201. Lounes Chikhi, CNRS (university professor)

202. Lyndsey Beutin, McMaster University (university professor)

203. M. V. Ramana, University of British Columbia (university professor)

204. Madalena Santos, Carleton University (university professor)

205. Maddie Brockbank (university professor)

206. Margot Francis, Brock University (university professor)

207. Mary Rankin, ETFO (elementary school teacher)

208. Mathew Hannouche, MD, FRCPC, McGill University (university professor)

209. Maurice Dufour, Marianopolis College (college professor)

210. May Lui (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

211. Mayada Elsabbagh, McGill University (university professor)

212. Melissa Houghtaling, Queen’s University (university professor)

213. Michael Litwack, English and Film Studies, University of Alberta (university professor)

214. Michel Grignon, McMaster University (university professor)

215. Michelle Hartman, McGill University (university professor)

216. Mike Burke, Toronto Metropolitan University (university professor, emeritus)

217. Mila Zuo, University of British Columbia (university professor)

218. Miranda Leibel, University of Lethbridge (university professor)

219. Mohamed Bakr, McMaster University (university professor)

220. Mohammed Bamyeh (university professor)

221. Mohsen Javdani, Simon Fraser University (university professor)

222. Morgan O’Neill, University of Toronto (university professor)

223. Najib Safieddine (university professor)

224. Natalie Owl (community-based educator / independent scholar)

225. Naved Bakali, University of Windsor (university professor)

226. Nergis Mazid (college professor)

227. Nima Naghibi (university professor)

228. Nina Paulovicova (university professor)

229. Norma Rantisi, Concordia University (university professor)

230. Nuha Dwaikat (university professor)

231. Ohood Elzibak, OrthoPA Network (community-based educator / independent scholar)

232. Omair Sarfaraz (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

233. Omar M. Ramahi, University of Waterloo (university professor)

234. Pasha Malla (university professor)

235. Paula Butler (university professor)

236. Paulina Rousseau (librarian)

237. Peter Chidiac, University of Western Ontario (university professor)

238. Peter Hasek (elementary school teacher)

239. Pheroze Unwalla (university professor)

240. Polo Moji, University of Cape Town (university professor)

241. Priti Narayan, University of British Columbia (university professor)

242. Rabab Abdulhadi, San Francisco State University (university professor)

243. Raed Hawa (university professor)

244. Raed Hawa, University of Toronto (university professor)

245. Randa Farah, UWO (university professor)

246. Rashid Abu-Ghazalah, McMaster University (university professor)

247. Rebecca Beaulne-Stuebing, York University (university professor)

248. Rebecca Comay (university professor)

249. Rebecca Hall (university professor)

250. Rebecca Todd, University of British Columbia (university professor)

251. Reem Abdul Qadir (university professor)

252. Regine Brammer (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

253. Rehab Massoud, Uni Saarland (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

254. Renee Sylvain, University of Guelph (university professor)

255. Reza Mirza (university professor)

256. Robert Slammon (university professor)

257. Robin Alison Mueller; Royal Roads University (university professor)

258. Robin Ganev, University of Regina (university professor)

259. Roilui Sin, Ph.D. (elementary school teacher)

260. Romesa Khalid, McMaster University (university professor)

261. rosalind hampton, University of Toronto (university professor)

262. Ruth Marshall, University of Toronto (university professor)

263. Sabina Chatterjee MADR (community-based educator/ independent scholar)

264. Sabrina Kayed (high school teacher)

265. Sally Howell, University of Michigan-Dearborn (university professor)

266. Samantha King, Queen’s University (university professor)

267. Sameena Eidoo, University of Toronto (university professor)

268. Sanobar Siddiqui (university professor)

269. Sara Carpenter, University of Alberta (university professor)

270. Sara Louise Kendall, Dawson College (college professor)
271. Sara Schroeter, University of Regina (university professor)
272. Sarah Dowling, University of Toronto (university professor)
273. Sarah Hanafi, McGill University (university professor)
274. Sawssan Kalache, McGill University (university professor)
275. Sayaka Yajima (elementary school teacher)
276. Sean Tucker, University of Regina, UBC (university professor)
277. Seyit Aydogan (community-based educator/ independent scholar)
278. Sfarah (elementary school teacher)
279. Shayna Henry, MD, McMaster University (university professor)
280. Shaza Fadel, University of Toronto (university professor)
281. Shebel Alsabbah (community-based educator/ independent scholar)
282. Sheila Mattar (elementary school teacher)
283. Sheila McManus, University of Lethbridge (university professor)
284. Sheryl Nestel (community-based educator/ independent scholar)
285. Shiva Olyaei (university professor)
286. Shozab Raza, University of Toronto (university professor)
287. Signy Lynch, University of Toronto Mississauga (university professor)
288. Siham Elkassem, University of Windsor, School of Social Work (university professor)
289. Simon Granovsky-Larsen, University of Regina (university professor)
290. Soma Chatterjee, York University (university professor)
291. Souha Ezzedeen (university professor)
292. Srinivas Murthy (university professor)
293. Stasha Huntingford, PhD., Mount Royal University (university professor)
294. Stefan Kipfer (university professor)
295. Stephen D’Arcy, Huron University (university professor)
296. Sumayya Kassamali, University of Toronto (university professor)
297. Sumi Hasegawa, Retired Faculty Lecturer, McGill University (university professor)
298. Susie O’Brien, McMaster University (university professor)
299. Suzanne Lenon, University of Lethbridge (university professor)
300. T.L. Cowan, University of Toronto (university professor)
301. Tammara Soma, Simon Fraser University (university professor)
302. Tara Lee (university professor)
303. Thomas Kemple (university professor)
304. Tracey Tief (community-based educator / independent scholar)
305. Trish Salah, Gender Studies, Queen’s University (university professor)
306. Tyler Eaglesham (high school teacher)
307. Usha Viswanathan, York University (university professor)
308. Vanessa Oliver, Wilfrid Laurier University (university professor)
309. Vannina Sztainbok (community-based educator / independent scholar)
310. Vidya Shah, LHAE, OISE (university professor)
311. W. Chris Johnson; University of Toronto (university professor)
312. Waed Mallah, MD, CCFP (community-based educator/ independent scholar)
313. Whitney Kemble (librarian)
314. Wigdan Al-Sukhni, MD, PhD, CCFP, University of Toronto (university professor)
315. Yildiz Atasoy, Sociology, Simon Fraser University (university professor)
316. Yogendra Shakya (community-based educator/ independent scholar)
317. Yoonhee Lee; University of Toronto (librarian)
318. Zahra Kassam, University of Toronto (university professor)
319. Zoë Wool, University of Toronto (university professor)
320. Zoha Salam; McMaster University (university professor)