Ms. Klein sent me her letter to the DC's Editorial Page in response to the Daily Cal's Friday article on the possible anti-semitism incident. Quoted in full:

Editor-

(Regarding "Student Alleges Anti-Semitism Taught in Arabic Language Course" 8-8-03)

In the 8-8-03 article, Mr. Kadhim never actually denies believing that the "Protocols" is a true document. Regarding his claims that he presented it the context of Iraqi conventional wisdom, he is not telling the truth. I do not recall the word "Iraq" being mentioned even once in the entire discussion. If I am as "brilliant" as my peers describe in the Daily Californian, surely I am able to distinguish between a discussion on Iraqi culture and worldview, and an instructor presenting his personal views to the class as truth. There was no room for ambiguity in Mr. Kadhim's remarks. I asked him repeatedly if he was certain that he believed the "Protocols" to be a document written by Jews. He assured me that he did. Hoping desperately that there must be some mistake, I phrased the question differently and asked him if he didn't believe it to be a forgery. He laughed and said, "Who would have forged it, Muslims?" I tried to explain that it was proven to have been forged by the Tsarist sercet police, but he cut me off and changed the topic. Mr. Kadhim may really believe that the "Protocols" are part of Iraqi conventional wisdom, although that is not what he presented to the class. I'm willing to give the Iraqi people more credit, though. The Iraqi public is on the whole highly educated and I find it hard to believe that they would buy such utter nonsense as the "Protocols".

I find it shameful that no other student save myself had the decency to speak against Mr. Kadhim's anti-Jewish diatribe. One student is quoted as calling me "belligerent". If belligerency means standing up to hatred and bigotry, then I will wear the label with pride.

Signed,
Susanna Klein

I would love to believe Ms. Klein's claims without any other verification, but spitting on an SJP member while parading around in a ridiculous suicide bomber outfit has killed her credibility with me-- and with most others. It's perhaps unfortunate, but this case calls for independent verification.Email This Post!