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Executive Committee Statement on Academic Freedom and Boycotts (July 2006)

The Canadian Mathematical Society has learned that certain professional organizations have recently invited their members to consider boycotts of Israeli scholars who "do not publicly dissociate themselves" from certain policies of the Israeli government.

The CMS opposes such boycotts and reaffirms the principles of the International Council for Science, which has "... affirmed and vigorously upheld the principle of universality of science based on the human right of scientists throughout the world to participate in scientific activity without any discrimination on the grounds of citizenship, religion, creed, political stance, ethnic origin, race, colour, age or gender."

A resolution of the CMS "supports the principle that academic freedom of individuals should not be sacrificed in the pursuit of political agendas." Boycotts of scientists or academic institutions to protest governmental policy are in direct contradiction of this principle.