Kathmandu— A Belgian university has suspended American researcher Nathan Cofnas, an outspoken critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), after he publicly announced his suspension and linked it to his involvement in raising plagiarism allegations against Jason Arday. Arday, a former University of Cambridge professor, died last week following intense public scrutiny surrounding the accusations; he had resigned from his post earlier this month. Ghent University confirmed it launched a preliminary disciplinary investigation into Cofnas's conduct, citing concerns for human dignity and opposition to discrimination.

Background on Key Figures

Nathan Cofnas was previously dismissed from Cambridge University in 2024 due to his views on race, which he describes as “race realism.” He has publicly argued that intelligence varies between racial groups and suggested a meritocratic system would result in fewer Black professors at elite universities. Jason Arday became Cambridge’s youngest-ever Black professor in 2023 but resigned in early August amid mounting plagiarism allegations concerning his doctoral thesis and claims of exaggerated personal achievements.

Escalation of Plagiarism Claims

Concerns about potential plagiarism in Arday's work had surfaced years prior, but did not gain traction until Cofnas publicly presented evidence last month. This led to widespread media coverage in both the UK and the US, with some British media outlets and right-wing commentators focusing on whether Arday benefited from DEI policies. Arday consistently disputed the allegations against him, stating he had reached “the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure” when he submitted his resignation.

University Response and Investigation

Ghent University stated it suspended Cofnas as a precautionary measure while conducting its preliminary disciplinary investigation. In a statement, Rector Petra De Sutter and Vice-Rector Herwig Reynaert emphasized the university’s commitment to academic freedom but also highlighted that such freedom is not absolute and must be balanced with responsibility and respect for the rights of others. The university is currently assessing whether sufficient grounds exist to proceed with full disciplinary proceedings, taking recent statements related to the case “very seriously.”

Reaction and Mourning

Arday’s death sparked anti-racist rallies in London and other cities, with tens of thousands mourning his passing and attributing his death to the intense media scrutiny he faced. Oxford academic Sneha Krishnan described Arday's situation as “a case of institutional murder by a system infused with anti-Black racism.”

Ghent University will continue its investigation into Cofnas’s conduct, determining whether further disciplinary action is warranted.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.