New photo Durham University strips controversial academic of honorary fellowship

Dr Stephen Pax Leonard, an honorary research fellow with St Chad's college since October 2017, was stripped of his position after posting offensive comments online

An academic at the prestigious Durham University has been stripped of his title for sending what were said to be anti-Semitic and Islamophobic tweets. 

Dr Stephen Pax Leonard, an honorary research fellow with St Chad's college since October 2017, was stripped of his position after posting offensive comments online.

The academic claimed London mayor Sadiq Khan wants London to become a 'Mecca for Muslims' and made comments about Jewish families owning the Swedish media. 

In a now deleted tweet, Dr Leonard wrote: 'He [Sadiq Khan] is a miserable little excuse for mayor. He just wants London to be a mecca for Muslims.'

In another post, also deleted, he wrote: 'With so few Jews, it is extraordinary that the [Swedish] print media is largely owned and edited by Jewish families.'

He also allegedly claimed 'tens of millions of Muslims support ISIS.' 

The university became aware of these comments in October and condemned them as 'objectionable and ill-judged' and revoked Dr Leonard's honorary title last week.

In a now deleted tweet, grabbed by student journalists, Dr Leonard wrote: 'He [Sadiq Khan] is a miserable little excuse for mayor. He just wants London to be a mecca for Muslims'

A Durham University spokesman said: 'The views that have been reported are wholly inconsistent with the values of Durham University and of St Chad's College.

'While St Chad's College is fully committed to free speech, the Principal has concluded that Dr Leonard's comments, as reported, were objectionable and ill-judged and fell far short of the standards of discourse expected of a Senior Research Fellow.

'The Principal has therefore withdrawn Dr Leonard's research fellowship, which is an honorary, unpaid position.'

Third year archaeology and ancient history student Chris Clarke, who is president of the Durham Union, said that Dr Leonard's remarks were 'dangerous'.

Third year archaeology and ancient history student Chris Clarke, who is president of the Durham Union, said that Dr Leonard's remarks were 'dangerous'

He said: 'The comments that were made I personally believe are quite dangerous. It's effectively inciting individuals to engage with Islamophobic rhetoric. It reflects a really dangerous set of ideas.'

Mr Clarke said that while the Durham Union debating society promotes free speech, it draws the line at the promotion of hate speech.

A Durham University spokesman said: 'The views that have been reported are wholly inconsistent with the values of Durham University and of St Chad's College'

He added that most people at the university are aware of Dr Leonard's comments and that the general view is that they were unacceptable.

However, postgraduate student Angelos Sofocleous, who made headlines earlier this after he was sacked by two student publications as a student editor for re-posting a tweet which said 'women don't have a penis', believes that Dr Leonard has become the latest victim of the Durham 'thought police'.

He said: 'I do find his views inappropriate and I do not agree with them. But I find the reaction from the university equally innapropriate. The comments were made in a public forum from his personal account.

'It's the same response the thought police and free speech police used for me.'

Mr Sofocleous believes no action should have been taken against Dr Leonard and said that the academic has a right to express his views.

MailOnline has contacted Dr Leonard for comment.  

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News Pictures Durham University strips controversial academic of honorary fellowship

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