University of Waterloo Students Call for Action After the Death of Palestinian Professor Sofyan Taya by Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

The tragic loss of Professor Sofyan Taya, a Professor of Physics, distinguished Guest Scholar at the University of Waterloo, and President of the Islamic University of Gaza has left our community in deep grief, shock, and anger. Professor Taya was killed by an Israeli airstrike, along with his daughter, sons, and grandchildren while they were in their home located in Jabalia Refugee Camp.

During his tenure as a guest scholar at the University of Waterloo, Professor Taya left a lasting impact on our academic community. Recognized as a distinguished scholar and President of the Islam University of Gaza, Professor Taya's influential research in physics and space sciences focused on the detection of cancer cells and pathogens
using photonic crystals and biosensors. Professor Taya, ranking the top 2% of science researchers in optics, assumed the prestigious role of the UNESCO Chair for Physics and Space Sciences in Palestine.

Professor Taya's murder by Israel demands a robust and unequivocal response from our University. As student organizations at the University of Waterloo, we jointly demand the following:

We demand the University of Waterloo issue an official statement honouring the life of Professor Sofyan Taya, condemning the intentional Israeli attacks on academic institutions including the airstrike on the universities of Gaza, and condemning the genocide Israel is committing in Gaza

We demand the University of Waterloo call for and advocate that the Canadian government calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, ‘emphasizing the crucial need to safeguard academic institutions, their leaders, and students. Through disregarding the ongoing genocide and the community's pleas for a response, academic institutions are complicit in the murder of Palestinian scholars and the targeting of universities in Gaza.

We demand that the University of Waterloo immediately cease cooperation and sever ties with all Israel institutions. Through the University's connections to Israeli institutions that support Israel's genacide against Palestine, the University of Waterloo is complicit in these crimes. It is unacceptable for our institution to lend any type of support to the war crimes that the Israeli apartheid state is committing against the people of Palestine. The University must cease its complicity now.

We recognize the impactful history of students' collective voices challenging the status quo-email President Vivek Goel to push for urgent action today. Your voice matters.

1. To email University President Vivek Goel, click here

2. Sign the Justice for All Letter, click here

SIGNATORIES

UW Voices for Palestine, UW Muslim Students’ Association, Orphan Sponsorship Program, The Islamic Information Center of the University Waterloo, UW Somali Student Association, UW African Student Association, National Society of Black Engineers UW, UW Indigenous Student Association, Waterloo Sudanese Student Association, Black Association for Student Expression UW, Waterloo Arab Student Association, UW Climate Justice Ecosystem, Thagalayn Muslim Association, UW Pakistani Students' Association, UWaterloo Chai and Verse, QTPOC KW