On Campus

Man accused in bombing hired, then fired at Carleton

Carleton University removes professor accused of attack on synagogue one day after he was hired, citing concerns about a “stable, productive academic environment”

A man accused of bombing a French synagogue nearly 30 years ago will not teach at Carleton University, as originally planned.

Yesterday, the Ottawa Citizen reported that Hassan Diab, a former professor at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, was hired to teach a sociology course for the rest of the summer.

However, a spokesperson for Carleton University now says they have replaced Diab “in the interest of providing its students with a stable, productive academic environment that is conducive to learning.”

Several Jewish groups spoke against the hiring, including the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students.

“It was a questionable decision to welcome him back in the first place,” said Ariella Kimmel, vice president external of the CFJS. “To have somebody charged with such a horrible offense would be incredibly distracting.

“But we commend Carleton for recognizing their mistake quite quickly.”

B’nai Brith and the Canadian Jewish Congress also released statements questioning the hiring of Diab.

Representatives from the Carleton University Students’ Assocation declined to comment.

Diab is charged with the murder of four people in a 1980 bombing in Paris.

He is on strict bail conditions which prevent him from leaving the house alone and force him to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, but had made special arrangements to teach. He will face an extradition hearing on January 4, 2010.

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