Our thanks to Neus Portet for this item.
___________________________________________
The letter below explains a very unfortunate event that has really happened to a Catalan university professor. The Spanish Government is doing everything in its hand to fight the Catalan independence movement, which is as democratic and pacifist as can be. Please, share this post in your wall and spread the message. Something like this should not be happening. The world must know what’s going on in Catalonia. Here is the letter:
Dear friends and colleagues,
It is with great regret that I inform you that my request to be reappointed to a second year as Prince of Asturias Distinguished Visiting Professor of Spanish Studies at Gerogetown University, which BMW-CGES director Jeff Anderson conveyed with enthusiastic support to the Spanish Ministry of Education, has been denied.
The decision blocking my appointment comes after several episodes – documented from a variety of sources – in which the Spanish Ambassador in Washington expressed distress about my appearance in the media speaking about Catalonia. The Ministry spells their reasons in administrative terms. However, the fact that the chair will be left vacant next academic year speaks for itself.
That Spanish authorities interfere for political reasons in an academic appointment, with total disregard of freedom of speech and academic freedom, is alarming and can only be qualified as censorship. I am very disappointed at this outcome as I honestly feel that pressures of this sort should not be acceptable in a respected academic institution like Georgetown.
Please do no hesitate to contact me if you have questions or suggestions regarding this regrettable affair.
Sincerely yours,
Clara Ponsatí
P. of Asturias D. V. Professor
Georgetown University
BMW C.G.E.S. – E. A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
37th and O Streets, N.W.
ICC Building-suite 501
Washington DC 20057-1022
Americans For Catalonia 