SOAS lecturer elected as MEP for far-right party
28th May 2019
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SOAS lecturer Dr Gunnar Beck will represent the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in the European Parliament.

Image credit: Ian Holton via Flickr
Earlier this month, staff in the SOAS Law Department released a statement condemning his actions, given the party's ultra-nationalism, islamophobic and reactionary policy proposals.The AfD previously called for "Islam-free schools" whilst one of its leaders sparked controversy for antisemitic remarks about the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. The decision to run was met with criticism from people who condemned Dr. Beck's political views and questioned his continued employment with SOAS.37 individual @soasLAW staff express "vehement opposition" to Dr. Gunnar Beck's candidacy for the far-right @AfD party in EU elections #EUelections2019 #Europawahl2019 pic.twitter.com/MEeCGZ2qud
— Pat de Brún (@patdebrun) May 14, 2019
This is how normalised it’s become: @SOAS academic running for far-right AfD in Germany.
— Maryyum Mehmood (@marymood) May 14, 2019
German rightwing populists list Gunnar Beck as ‘prof’, but the University says he is *only* a reader in law. Yes, b/c that makes it less abhorrent, SOAS. https://t.co/8VCAa0Z9nZ
Dr Beck, who teaches EU law and serves as the departmental careers tutor, was accused of exaggerating his academic credentials in his European election campaign. Ballot papers for the European elections on 26 May identified him as 'Prof Dr Gunnar Beck,' despite not holding the title of 'Professor' in the UK. Speaking to the Guardian, a spokesperson for the AfD said it translated Dr Beck's title of "reader" as "Professor" as it considered the two to be equal, citing Oxford University's definition of "reader" as a “post at an intermediate level between that of full professor and associate professor."Hey @SOAS how can you employ, Gunnar Beck, an academic who is running for a far-right racist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and xenophobic party???
— Kidiaba's Ponytail (@KidiabaPonyTail) May 13, 2019
Sort it out. https://t.co/ov4BKesXtS
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