BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom

Latest Statement/Letter

BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom Statement on the Dismissal of Professor Michelle Pace

The BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom (CAF) is profoundly concerned by the dismissal of Professor Michelle Pace from her position as Professor of Global Studies in the Department of Social Sciences and Business at Roskilde University in Denmark. Professor Pace is an internationally recognised expert on areas including EU-Middle East relations, the politics of Palestine/Israel, and Danish immigration policy. She is regularly cited and interviewed by international news media, and has furthermore been a dedicated and successful teacher at the university, becoming the first academic at Roskilde to ever win a student-awarded teaching prize in two consecutive years.

19 October 2026

Following our statement published on 19 October, BRISMES CAF has written to Roskilde University regarding Professor Pace's dismissal. We call upon Roskilde University to: 

1. Commission an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Professor Pace’s dismissal, including whether established procedures were followed, whether the decision was proportionate and supported by sufficient evidence, and whether her lawful academic and public expression, particularly concerning Palestine, played any role in the decision.
2. Ensure accountability for any procedural failures or violations of academic freedom identified by the investigation, including taking appropriate remedial action and acknowledging publicly any institutional wrongdoing, while respecting Professor Pace’s wishes and legal rights.
3. Review and strengthen the institution’s policies and procedures for protecting academic freedom and freedom of expression, including establishing clear safeguards against the use of disciplinary or managerial processes to penalise lawful academic and political expression, and ensuring that allegations of workplace misconduct are addressed through fair, transparent and proportionate procedures. 
4. Publish the investigation’s findings and recommendations, subject to appropriate confidentiality and data protection requirements, and commit to a clear timetable for implementing any necessary institutional reforms.

21 October 2026