Western University fires Muslim chaplain over 'divisive' social media post

Western University has parted ways with a Muslim chaplain after he made online comments about the Israel-Hams war that the school's president calls "divisive".

Imam Aarij Anwer had been acting as a spiritual leader to Muslim students at Western on a volunteer basis. On Thursday, the London, Ont. school issued a statement saying it had been made aware of comments on the social media platform X that prompted the dismissal. 

"His comments do not align with Western's commitment to peaceful and respectful dialogue," wrote Western's president Alan Shepard and Opiyo Oloya, associate vice-president of equity, diversity and inclusion in the co-signed statement. 

Anwer's post was in response to comments by former Canadian Senator Linda Frum that criticized a Toronto rally supporting Palestinians. 

"In 2015 PM Harper tried to make it a crime to glorify and promote terrorism. Trudeau blocked his efforts and here we are. There exists no law in Canada to prevent this orgy of celebration for the beheading of babies and the rape and execution of little girls. Time for a new PM," said Frum. 

"Stop spreading lies of beheading babies or rape of little girls. It's been debunked," Anwer replied. 

"No one is celebrating the murder of Israeli babies. Palestinians are mourning the death of their babies. It's incredible how Israel sympathizers simultaneously are the oppressor and the victim." 

Anwer published a statement on X addressing the situation on Friday afternoon.

"Universities are places where people should be able to ask questions about active war crimes, regardless of who commits them," he wrote on the social media platform. "Academic freedom is the foundation of university life, and vigorous debate and trenchant analysis is a cornerstone of this freedom and of a robust democracy."

In the post, Anwer also says he is considering all legal options available to him.

Shepard and Oloya wrote that the university supports students who are Palestinian, Muslim, Jewish and Israeli, and recognizes that they're in pain at this time.

"As a university, we are committed to fostering an environment where all members of our community can feel safe, welcomed, heard and supported. This commitment is jeopardized when our leaders, even those in volunteer positions, make divisive statements," they said.

The London-based Muslim advocacy group Hikma said in an email to its members Friday that it was deeply concerned about Anwer's termination amid rising instances of Islamophobia spurred by news of the worsening conflict. 

It called on Muslims in the community to send pre-populated emails to Western asking for a public explanation of the process behind the decision, and for its reversal along with an apology. 

Western University says it is now looking for a new Muslim chaplain.