(Apologies for the Dutch to write in English, but this saves writing time)

Dear supporters of professor Joost Herman,

You greatly supported Joost Herman by signing the petition this Spring asking the University of Groningen to stop its policy of confrontation against Joost and his family, and you have helped him in many other ways. This writing is to update you on the situation and to announce some initiatives.

Joost is facing three kinds of legal charges: a labour law case (dismissal),  a civil case (claims of  €1.2 mil. by RUG and €1.9 by NOHA ISBL in Brussels), and a criminal one (submitted by RUG to the public prosecutor). The Labour Law case has been in court in February and the Groningen judge, at the end of March, rejected Joost’s appeal against his dismissal – the verdict was not based upon weighing up against each other ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ actions of Joost in his work, but simply upon judging that certain specific actions could legally justify a dismissal (he was even sentenced to paying the litigation costs made by RUG). However, the lawyer of Joost identified several points in the verdict that should be challenged, so she will lodge an appeal to a higher level court. Nevertheless, the costs for legal aid for Joost will again be considerable. The civil case is expected to take a start this month - the lawyers are asked by the court to submit their pleading notes.

To our chagrin we have to report further awkward RUG actions to block and frustrate Joost and his family. For instance, RUG initiated specific action towards the UWV so that he was denied the UWV sick leave benefits that he would normally receive. Joost’s lawyer now has to appeal again to UWV to change their quick negative decision that leaves him without income at the moment. RUG also took the unusual step to allocate the medical supervision of Joost to a commercial partner (ActivaSZ) and not to their RUG’s own medical service (bedrijfsarts). Meanwhile, RUG continues to deny Joost access to his possessions in his (former) room in the Harmonie building and to his digital archives to collect his personal belongings and information – RUG will appoint a person to select what is personal and what not. Joost has complained with the privacy officer of RUG, but this may not help because it is the Board of the University itself that decides about the legitimacy of complaints. So Joost needs again the dear help of his lawyer in another up-hill battle.

The question that you may ask is : “What can we do as friends and supporters in this situation? “

At least two actions present themselves:

1- Joost is collecting, despite still being under medical treatment, all his remaining energy for a job-hunt  –  in the Netherlands, in international organisations and NGOs, or in universities in many countries. Your own professional network may be a great value for Joost – please alert him to possibilities and to trusted partners.

2- We should try to avoid bankruptcy of the family Herman and try to assist in the burden of covering the many legal costs.  Although the defense lawyers are lenient and modest in their charges, the total legal spending has been and is enormous. For this purpose a support funding action has been started. (send your financial support to the Triodos Bank: NL18TRIO 0379492717 name JJM Zeelen, with description: Support legal costs Joost Herman).

We hope that you can be a support in one or both of these actions!

Pieter Boele van Hensbroek and Jacques Zeelen