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The University of Melbourne has become the first tertiary institution in Australia to adopt a controversial international definition of antisemitism, in a move critics say could be used to shut down legitimate criticism of the state of Israel.
On Wednesday, the university announced it would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as part of its broader “anti-racism commitment”.
The IHRA has faced global backlash among Palestinian and Arab scholars who argue its definition of antisemitism, which includes “targeting the state of Israel”, could be used to shut down legitimate criticism of Israel and stifle freedom of expression, citing the banning of events supporting Palestinian rights on campuses after the definition was adopted by universities in the United Kingdom.
A University of Melbourne spokesperson said it had implemented the IHRA definition in “direct response” to recent conversations with many Jewish students and staff and would use it as an “important educative tool”.
They said it came with a commitment to develop a definition of Islamophobia in consultation with Muslim students and staff, “taking proper account of other external expert thinking in the process”.
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network first requested a formal meeting with the university to discuss the development of its anti-racism framework in May.
