TO: THE VICE CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR STEPHEN TOOPE, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
We the undersigned scholars, scientists, researchers, journalists and historians 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 again 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, among others:
- Guillaume Ancel, Lieutenant-Colonel (R), Operation Turquoise veteran. Writer of “Rwanda, la fin du silence”. Direct witness of the genocide against the Tutsi
- Stéphane Audoin-Rouzeau, Historian, Director of Studies, EHESS, Paris
- Medhi Ba, Journalist and author
- Gatsinzi Basaninyenzi, Associate Professor of English, Alabama A&M University
- Annette Becker, Professor of History, Paris-Nanterre. Author of Messengers of Disaster: Raphael Lemkin, Jan Karski, and Twentieth-Century Genocides (Wisconsin University Press, 2021)
- Romain Bertrand, Director of Studies, CERI (Sciences Po-CNRS)
- Juliette Bour, Ph.D. candidate in History (EHESS, CESPRA, Paris)
- Raphaëlle Branche, Professor of Contemporary History, Institut des Sciences Sociales du Politique, Université de Paris Nanterre
- TimothéeBrunet-Lefèvre, Ph.D. candidate at CESPRA (EHESS, Paris)
- Jabo Butera, Chairperson of the national association or Rwandese communities in the UK
- Ayse Sila Cehreli, Associate Professor, Faculty of Political Sciences, Marmara University
- Jean-Pierre Chrétien, Emeritus Director of Research, CNRS
- PiotrCieplak, Senior lecturer, University of Sussex
- Phil Clark, Professor of International Politics, SOAS University of London
- Bruce Clarke, Visual artist. Author of The Garden of Memory and the Upright Men contemporary arts memorial works. Member of the advisory board of CPCR (Collectif des Parties civiles pour le Rwanda)
- Denis Crouzet, Professor in modern history, Faculté des Lettres Sorbonne Université.
- Parand Danesh, Ph.D. candidate in Political Science, School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS, Paris)
- Patrick de Saint-Exupéry, Author and journalist
- Hélène Dumas, Historian, CNRS, EHESS
- Jean-François Dupaquier, Author, journalist, expert witness at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in the Media Case
- Aleksander Edelman, Director od studies, CNRS
- François-Xavier Fauvelle, Professor of African History, Collège de France, Paris
- Karen B. Froming, ABPP, University of California
- Ignace Gatare, Principal, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda
- Alain Gauthier, President of the CPCR (Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda), France
- Catherine Gilbert, Academic Track Fellow, Newcastle University. Author of From Surviving to Living: Voice, Trauma and Witness in Rwandan Women’s Writing (2018)
- Richard Gisagara, Court lawyer (France – Rwanda)
- Bruno Gouteux, Journalist and publisher, Izuba édition & La Nuit Rwandaise
- François Graner, Researcher, member of “Survie”, author
- Jan T. Gross, Professor of History Emeritus, Princeton University
- Fred Grünfeld, Emeritus Professor in International Relations, Human Rights and the Causes of Gross Human Rights Violations, Universities of Maastricht and Utrecht, Netherlands. Author of The Failure to Prevent Genocide in Rwanda: The Role of Bystanders (2007)
- Deogratias Harorimana, Senior Fellow, USP, Executive Chairman – AIPF Group
- Jason Havuga Nshimye, Ibuka USA Chairperson
- Emmanuel Havugimana, Senator, Rwanda
- Helen Hintjens, Assistant Professor in Development and Social Justice, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) The Hague. Relevant publication with Jos van Oijen (2020) “Elementary forms of Collective Denial: The 1994 Rwanda Genocide” Genocide Studies International, 13(2): 146-167.
- Nicki Hitchcott, Professor, University of St Andrews
- Grégoire Jakhian, Lawyer
- Pierre Jamagne, Former development worker in Rwanda (1991-1994)
- Richard Garon Johnson, U.S. Foreign Service Officer, retired
- Amdani Juma, Director, African Institute for Social Development(AISD)
- Charles Kabwete Mulinda, Associate Professor at the University of Rwanda, Department of History and Heritage Studies
- Aurélia Kalisky, Researcher at the Leibniz-Zentrum für Literatur- und Kulturforschung, Berlin
- Emmanuel Kamaza, Public Policy Consultant, Kigali, Rwanda
- Oscar Karangwa, Former Cambridge student
- Aimable Karirima Ngarambe, Journalist
- Jean-Paul Kimonyo, Researcher and author
- Joël Kotek, Professeur at the Free University of Brussels (ULB) and the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po)
- Lyn Kouadio, Philomathia Africa Scholar, University of Cambridge
- Samuel Kuhn , Teacher of History and Geography
- Anouche Kunth, Historian, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
51. Amon Kwesiga, Institution licensing and accreditation, Rwanda Higher Education Council (HEC)
52.Julie Le Gac, Senior Lecturer in Modern History, University of Paris Nanterre, Institut Universitaire de France
53. MariaMalagardis, Journalist
54. Jean-Pierre Martin, Journalist, Grand-reporter
55. François Masabo, Centre for Conflict Management, University of Rwanda
56. Consolée Mbarushimana, Senior Lecturer in CyberSecurity, University of Wolverhampton
57. Linda Melvern, British investigative journalist. Author of Intent to Deceive Denying the Genocide of the Tutsi (Verso 2020)
58. Roland Moerland, Assistant Professor of Criminology, Maastricht University
59. Allan T. Moore, Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of the West of Scotland. Member of the International Association of Genocide Scholars
60. Jacques Morel, Author of “La France au coeur du génocide des Tutsi”
61. Claire Mouradian, Emeritus Director of Research, CNRS, Paris
62. Dafroza Mukarumongi-Gauthier, CPCR-France
63. Jean François Munyakayanza, Historian, Senior Lecturer, University of Rwanda
64. Alice Musabende, Gates Scholar, University of Cambridge
65. Freddy Mutanguha, Executive Director, Aegis Trust
66. Anais Mutumba, Freelance journalist
67. Yael Navaro, Reader in Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge
68. Tom Ndahiro, Genocide scholar
69. Eric Ns. Ndushabandi, Director of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace. Professor of Political Science, University of Rwanda
70. Raphaël Nkaka, Senior Lecturer, Deputy Dean, School of Governance, College of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Rwanda
71. Egide Nkuranga, President of Ibuka-Rwanda
72. Etienne Nsanzimana, President of Ibuka-France
73. Séta Papazian, President of Collectif VAN [Vigilance Arménienne contre le Négationnisme]
74. Nicolas Patin, Lecturer in contemporary history, Université Bordeaux Montaigne
75. Kirrily Pells, UCL
76. Charles Petrie, Former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations & Deputy UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Rwanda during the period of the Genocide
77. Manon Pignot, Historian, Lecturer (HDR) in Contemporary History, Université Picardie Jules Verne
78. Florent Piton, Université de Paris, CESSMA
79. Romain Poncet, Ibuka-France Executive Board
80. Rudy Reichstadt, Director of Conspiracy Watch
81. François Robinet, Lecturer, Université de Versailles-Saint-Quentin / Paris-Saclay
82. Anna C. Roosevelt, Professor of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Chicago
83. Augustin Rudacogora, University of Rwanda
84. David Russel, UK Coordinator, Survivors Fund (SURF)
85. Emmanuel Saint-Fuscien, MCF EHESS, Paris
86. Jonathan Salt, Managing Director of Ojemba Education
87. Jean-Philippe Schreiber, Professor at the Free University of Brussels (ULB)
88 Serigne Seye, CAMES Assistant Professor, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal
89. John Shofel Ruzibuka, senior lecturer economics, Leeds Becket University Business School
90. James Smith, President of the UK National Holocaust Centre
91. Aloys Tegera, Historian, Senior Researcher at Pole Institute based in Goma, DRC
92. Yves Ternon, Historian
93. Sylvie Thénault, Director of studies, CNRS
94. Aimable Twagilimana, SUNY Buffalo State, New York, USA
95. Sandrine Umutoni, Director General of Imbuto Foundation
96. Alain Verhaagen, Senior lecturer, Université libre de Bruxelles
97. Clémentine Vidal-Naquet, Lecturer in Contemporary History, Université Picardie Jules Verne
98. Alice von Bieberstein, Humboldt University of Berlin
99. Andrew Wallis, Author and journalist
100. Caroline Williamson Sinalo, University College Cork.
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