About this Open Letter:

On October 12th, we received a university-wide communication that left many of us feeling excluded, and we sensed an unequal perception of students at TUM by the university. This email was sent shortly after the October 7th attacks that have deeply saddened us all.  

In response, a group of concerned students took the initiative to write the open letter you'll find below, which is addressed to Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Hofmann, the President of TUM. The subject of this letter is to request an inclusive and empathetic follow-up email that specifically acknowledges the pain and suffering experienced by students from Palestinian and other backgrounds who were affected by the conflict, and that explains our university’s stance on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

As a member of the TUM community, whether you are a student, an alumnus, an employee or a community member, you have the opportunity to add your support to this open letter. You can also choose to remain anonymous if you prefer.

The signed letter will be delivered to the president through our student representatives.

 

The content of the open letter: 

Subject: Request for Clarification and Inclusivity

Dear Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Hofmann,

We hope this email finds you well. We are writing to request a follow-up email that reflects the values of inclusivity and empathy, which are paramount for our academic community, and that clearly outlines the university's stance on the crisis in Gaza.

On October 12th, we received an email from you regarding the recent events involving the conflict in the Middle East. The email was sent out 5 days after the 7th October attack.

Between October 7th and October 12th, 1,300 people have been killed in Israel, and 1,572 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank (source: WHO oPt EMERGENCY SITUATION REPORT Issue 3).

As of November 1st, 2023, the attacks on Gaza have resulted in the tragic loss of 8,805 civilian residents, 41.5% of whom are children (3,650) (source: WHO oPt EMERGENCY SITUATION REPORT Issue 10).

On both sides, innocent civilians, including children, women, and elderly, tragically lost their lives. This led to a shared sense of mourning in the region.

Among us are Palestinian and Israeli students, as well as students of Arab descent, who have family in both Palestinian territories and Israel. Students from other backgrounds were also as deeply affected by the conflict. The pain of loss and anxiety for their families in the region is palpable. We are collectively saddened by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

As TUM students, we are in complete agreement with your sentiments and unequivocally condemn any terrorist attacks on civilians. However, we find ourselves compelled to inquire why there has been no mention of the 8,805 Palestinians who have tragically lost their lives in the past weeks within any university-wide communication. We are left wondering why there hasn't been an email with the subject line "Solidarity with the People of Palestine", conveying a message of empathy towards students who have been directly and indirectly affected by the Israeli attacks.

As Palestinians and students of Arab descent, we've always felt hesitant to speak out, fearing that we'll be unfairly labelled as 'supporters of terrorism’. Sadly, we've reached a point where we don't feel at ease on campus and can't openly share our grief and pain. This is because of the prevailing narrative that wrongly pins all the blame on the Palestinian side. 

By not acknowledging our pain and recognizing that we are affected by these events too in a university-wide communication, this wrong narrative becomes more deeply rooted within our community. It divides us and suggests that our suffering doesn't matter, and our lost loved ones are just numbers.

We’ve always believed that our strength in research and education at TUM derives from our commitment to diversity, unity, mutual respect and inclusivity. In times like these, our university must unite to support one another, advocate for justice and promote peace. TUM should ensure equal treatment of all of its students and community members, beginning with the acknowledgement of the pain and suffering experienced by every individual, regardless of their background, nationality or faith. We understand that TUM rarely addresses sensitive political issues, but in light of the recent email expressing solidarity with the people of Israel, it's important to maintain equal treatment. Condemning violence should apply to all instances of violence without discrimination.

This is why we believe that our university must extend its support and recognition to all students, irrespective of their origins. We request an inclusive and empathetic follow-up email that specifically acknowledges the pain and suffering experienced by the Palestinian students affected by the conflict and that explains our university’s stance on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

The signing TUM community members.