NEGATIONISM : OPEN LETTER AGAINST GIVING JUDI REVER A PLATFORM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 2021

To: The Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Toope, University of Cambridge

We the undersigned scholars, scientists, researchers, journalists, historians and charitable organisations are writing to you today to express our grave concern at the platform your university is giving to a known denier of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and that no opportunity is being provided to challenge such views.

Judi Rever, who is scheduled to speak at the University of Cambridge Centre for Geopolitics on 21 April 2021, is a journalist and author of the book In Praise of Blood that promotes the ‘double genocide’ myth, an idea introduced and spread by the genocide perpetrators and their supporters during the horrific events of 1994 and in the 27 years since.

This double genocide myth has been shown by countless reports, scholars, journalists, court proceedings and visual evidence to have absolutely no basis in fact. It forms part of a mounting campaign to minimise and distort the historical truth. While claiming to be serious journalistic investigative work, Rever relies on unsubstantiated and anonymous witness testimonies and quotes from unauthenticated documents apparently obtained from a ‘secret unit’ at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Her work is in no way peer reviewed and she provides not the slightest evidence for her sensationalist accusations whilst ignoring a wealth of testimony and accessible material – the concrete evidence built up over the past 27 years by scholars and journalists, NGOs and witnesses that has been tested in courtrooms and in solid academic debate and publications.

We are shocked that the University of Cambridge has chosen to give a platform to the author of a book that peddles arguments used in a 27-year campaign of genocide denial and revision.

The University of Cambridge Centre for Geopolitics – with no African, let alone Rwandan member on its 50 strong staff, Management Committee and International Advisory Board – has shown a reckless disregard for upholding factual historical accuracy and debate. African issues and lives are being treated with a flagrant disregard by the University of Cambridge that promotes itself as a global leader in truth and honesty.

The upset your decision causes the survivors of the genocide of the Tutsi, some of whom are studying at the University, is incalculable. In the circumstances of the Holocaust this would be unthinkable.

By promoting the conspiracy theories of Judi Rever, you have given the impression of support for negationism and denial.

We kindly ask you urgently now to reconsider your decision to give a platform to Rever and her views.

Signed:

84. Joël Kotek, Professeur at the Free University of Brussels (ULB) and the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po)
85. Lyn Kouadio, Philomathia Africa Scholar, University of Cambridge
86. Samuel Kuhn , Teacher of History and Geography
87. R. Simangaliso Kumalo, University of Kwazulu-Natal. South Africa
88. Anouche Kunth, Historian, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
89. Amon Kwesiga, Institution licensing and accreditation, Rwanda Higher Education Council (HEC)
90. Marc Lazar, Historian, Sciences Po, Paris
91. Julie Le Gac, Senior Lecturer in Modern History, University of Paris Nanterre, Institut Universitaire de France
92. Maria Malagardis, Journalist
93. Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
94. Jean-Pierre Martin, Journalist and special correspondent
95. François Masabo, Centre for Conflict Management, University of Rwanda
96. Déo Mazina, Chairman of Réseaux International Recherche & Génocide (RESIRG)
97. Consolée Mbarushimana, Senior Lecturer in CyberSecurity, University of Wolverhampton
98. Linda Melvern, British investigative journalist. Author of Intent to Deceive Denying the Genocide of the Tutsi (Verso 2020)
99. Roland Moerland, Assistant Professor of Criminology, Maastricht University
100. Allan T. Moore, Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of the West of Scotland. Member of the International Association of Genocide Scholars
101. Jacques Morel, Author of “La France au coeur du génocide des Tutsi”
102. Ève Morisi, Associate Professor of French, University of Oxford
103. Claire Mouradian, Emeritus Director of Research, CNRS, Paris
104. Louisa Esther Mugabo, Journalist
105. Honorine Mujyambere, Ibuka Italy Chairperson
106. Yolande Mukagasana, Founder and Director of Fondation Yolande Mukagasana, Genocide survivor and author
107. Dafroza Mukarumongi-Gauthier, CPCR-France
108. Jean François Munyakayanza, Historian, Senior Lecturer, University of Rwanda
109. Revd Dr. Malachie Munyaneza,
110. Eric Murangwa Eugène MBE, Founder and CEO Ishami Foundation
111. Alice Musabende, Gates Scholar, University of Cambridge
112. Freddy Mutanguha, Executive Director, Aegis Trust
113. Anais Mutumba, Freelance journalist
114. Yael Navaro, Reader in Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge
115. Felix Ndahinda, Researcher and Consultant
116. Tom Ndahiro, Genocide scholar
117. Juvenal Ndayiragije, Chair, Department of Language Studies, UTSC, University of Toronto
118. Pap Ndiaye, Sciences Po, Paris
118. Eric Ns. Ndushabandi, Director of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace. Professor of Political Science, University of Rwanda
119. François-Xavier Nérard, Senior lecturer in contemporary history, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
120. Joseph Ngabonziza, Lawyer
121. Alexander Ngenzi, Academician and a researcher at University of Rwanda.
122. Leon Ngeruka, Surgeon
123. Raphaël Nkaka, Senior Lecturer, Deputy Dean, School of Governance, College of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Rwanda
124. Egide Nkuranga, Ibuka-Rwanda Chairperson
125. Zoe Norridge, Senior Lecturer in African and Comparative Literature, King’s College London
126. Etienne Nsanzimana, buka-France Chairperson
127. Vincent Ntaganira, Public Servant and visiting lecturer at the University of Rwanda
128. S. Vahni P. Capildeo, FRSL, University of York
129. Séta Papazian, President of Collectif VAN [Vigilance Arménienne contre le Négationnisme]
130. Nicolas Patin, Lecturer in contemporary history, Université Bordeaux Montaigne
131. Dominique Payette, Full professor, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
132. Kirrily Pells, UCL
133. Revd Dr. Rodney Petersen, Executive Director, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, Visiting Researcher, Center for Global Christianity and Mission, Boston University School of Theology
134. Charles Petrie, Former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations & Deputy UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Rwanda during the period of the Genocide
135. Manon Pignot, Historian, Lecturer (HDR) in Contemporary History, Université Picardie Jules Verne
136. Guillaume Piketty, Sciences Po, Paris
137. Florent Piton, Université de Paris, CESSMA
138. Jean Pitz, Retired Businessman and Contributing Professor at the University of Brussels
139. Romain Poncet, Ibuka-France Executive Board
140. Florence Prudhomme, Author, Founder of NGO Rwanda avenir
141. Rudy Reichstadt, Director of Conspiracy Watch
142. François Robinet, Lecturer, Université de Versailles-Saint-Quentin / Paris-Saclay
143. Iannis Roder, Head of the training Department of the Memorial de la Shoah (Paris)
144. Anna C. Roosevelt, Professor of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Chicago
145. Augustin Rudacogora, University of Rwanda
146. David Russel, UK Coordinator, Survivors Fund (SURF)
147. Rose Rwabuhihi, Imbuto Foundation board member
148. Christine Safari , Ibuka Netherlands Chaiperson
149. Emmanuel Saint-Fuscien, MCF EHESS, Paris
150. Jonathan Salt, Managing Director of Ojemba Education
151. Jean-Philippe Schreiber, Professor at the Free University of Brussels (ULB)
152. Josias Semujanga, Professor of African literature and literary theories at the University of Montreal (Cana. His publications include Narrating Itsembabwoko. When literature becomes Testimony of Genocide (2019), Origins of the Rwandan Genocide (2003), and Récits fondateurs du drame rwandais (1998).
153. Serigne Seye, CAMES Assistant Professor, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal
154. Stéphanie Courouble Share, Historian, expert on Holocaust denial, research follow at The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy
155. Hilda Shema Kamali, Rwanda Women Representative- RCA -NL
156. John Shofel Ruzibuka, senior lecturer economics, Leeds Becket University Business School
157. James Smith, President of the UK National Holocaust Centre
158. Mutesi Souvenir, CEO of Rwanda Sisterhood Association (UK)
159. Aloys Tegera, Historian, Senior Researcher at Pole Institute based in Goma, DRC
160. Yves Ternon, Historian
161. Sylvie Thénault, Director of studies, CNRS
162. Rebecca Tinsley, Journalist and author
163. Xavier Truti, Executive Project Manager, member of Citizen Culture
164. Aimable Twagilimana, SUNY Buffalo State, New York, USA
165. Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse, Author
166. Henriette Umulisa, Vice-Chairperson Pan Africa Movement – Rwanda chapter
167. Sandrine Umutoni, Director General of Imbuto Foundation
168. Alice Urusaro Karekezi, Researcher Fellow, University of Rwanda
169. Joséphine Uwimana Boedts, Chairman of Global Platform of Women Entrepreneurs, Ivory Coast
170. Ina Van Looy, Director of the Center for Citizenship Education, Centre Communautaire Laic Juif David Susskind (CCLJ), Brussels
171. Alain Verhaagen, Senior lecturer, Université libre de Bruxelles
172. Clémentine Vidal-Naquet, Lecturer in Contemporary History, Université Picardie Jules Verne
173. Alice von Bieberstein, Humboldt University of Berlin
174. Andrew Wallis, Author and journalist
175. Caroline Williamson Sinalo, University College Cork

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