Two leaders of Harvard’s Middle Eastern studies centre to step down

The leaders of Harvard University’s Centre for Middle Eastern Studies are leaving their positions after the centre faced accusations of anti-Israel bias.

The departures come as the Trump administration scrutinises institutions that have had pro-Palestinian protests over the last year. Earlier this week, Columbia’s president announced she would step down after Trump targeted the university for protests on campus last year.

On Wednesday, Harvard’s interim dean of social science, David Cutler, said in an email to centre affiliates that the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies director, Cemal Kafadar, a professor of Turkish studies, would be stepping down by the end of the academic year, according to the Harvard Crimson. Rosie Bsheer, a professor of history, is also stepping down as associate director. Both are expected to remain in their faculty positions.

Faculty members anonymously said they believed that Kafadar and Bsheer were forced out of their roles.

The executive committee of Harvard’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors condemned the departures in a statement saying that they were “abrupt termination[s]”.

“In the context of recent events, the decision appears to be a shameful attempt to escape punishment from the Trump administration for engaging in academic discussions about topics the president disfavors,” the committee said. “These firings cede the university’s decision-making authority to bullies and bad-faith actors committed to silence speech with which they disagree.”

The Centre for Middle Eastern Studies has been under criticism for alleged anti-Israel bias. Posting on X, economist and former Harvard president Lawrence Summers praised the university for moving to replace the centre’s leadership.

“Even after egregious delay since it was pointed up right after October 7, I am very glad that Harvard is curbing its institutional support for anti-semitism,” Summers wrote.

Summers had earlier criticized Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, on X as “lack[ing] the will and/or leverage” to fight the alleged bias. Summers specifically pointed to a panel that the centre held in February on “Israel’s war in Lebanon” as being antisemitic.

On Friday, Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, announced that she would step down imminently and be replaced by Claire Shipman, the co-chair of the university’s board of trustees.