Help Jason Reza Jorjani Fight For Academic Freedom
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In September of 2017, Jason Reza Jorjani, PhD suffered a serious defamation in the pages of The New York Times and other news and media outlets that disseminated a surreptitiously recorded and deceptively edited video of him. A few minutes of Jorjani’s remarks in a private conversation with a man who approached him under false pretenses were taken out of the context of the two hour conversation that they had together. Sentences and even half sentences were spliced to make it seem as if he is a racist and an advocate of genocide. Jorjani has attempted to set the record straight on how and why he was defamed.
As a consequence of this defamation, he was first suspended and then fired from his university position. Moreover, the further defamatory statements made by NJIT faculty during this period have rendered him unemployable (not only in academia but in any area of competence, even as an editor).
Jorjani has been pursuing a legal battle against the New Jersey Institute of Technology for putting their academic stamp of approval on yellow journalism, showing disregard for academic freedom, and violating his first amendment right as a citizen of the United States. An increasingly costly legal battle is quite difficult to wage without secure employment.
This struggle has become much more serious since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has delayed the resolution of his court case by at least a year (if not longer). The pandemic has also destroyed the enterprises of everyone in Jorjani’s family who had previously been a source of financial support during this crisis.
This GoFundMe is being set up to help Jorjani wage his legal battle until his name is cleared, and also to allow him to continue his research and writing. It is important to remember that, as is standard in the publishing industry, Jorjani receives only a 10% royalty from any book sales. Please help support this independent philosopher.
As a consequence of this defamation, he was first suspended and then fired from his university position. Moreover, the further defamatory statements made by NJIT faculty during this period have rendered him unemployable (not only in academia but in any area of competence, even as an editor).
Jorjani has been pursuing a legal battle against the New Jersey Institute of Technology for putting their academic stamp of approval on yellow journalism, showing disregard for academic freedom, and violating his first amendment right as a citizen of the United States. An increasingly costly legal battle is quite difficult to wage without secure employment.
This struggle has become much more serious since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has delayed the resolution of his court case by at least a year (if not longer). The pandemic has also destroyed the enterprises of everyone in Jorjani’s family who had previously been a source of financial support during this crisis.
This GoFundMe is being set up to help Jorjani wage his legal battle until his name is cleared, and also to allow him to continue his research and writing. It is important to remember that, as is standard in the publishing industry, Jorjani receives only a 10% royalty from any book sales. Please help support this independent philosopher.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jeffrey Mishlove
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM
Jason Jorjani
Beneficiary
