Title: Humboldt University court decision: Stop the slander against the biologist
In the aftermath of a canceled lecture on the biological definition and number of genders, Berlin's renowned Humboldt University has been prohibited from publicly discrediting one of its own scientists by the administrative court. The biology doctoral student filed a complaint following the university's cancellation of her public lecture in 2022, sparked by protests from left-wing activists and concerns about escalation.
The university argued that the opinions expressed by the biologist, as noted in a "Welt" newspaper article and the transgender debate, were not in line with the Humboldt University's (HU) mission statement and values. However, the court deemed this statement provisionally prohibited, as it was likely to damage the woman's reputation without a valid justification for infringing on her personal rights.
According to the court, the woman had reported facing extreme hostility due to her views, and the statement could be interpreted as misrepresenting her entire opinion as being inconsistent with the university's principles, which emphasize respect and oppose discrimination. The court stated that the statement lacked a solid factual basis, as it failed to specify which of the woman's opinions or the university's values were at issue.
The woman's lecture, "Sex is not bad: sex, gender, and why there are two sexes in biology", was at the heart of the controversy. The university initially defended the lecture, citing a lack of scientific arguments against it. As a result, it was rescheduled.
The media portal Nius first reported this news, but the decision is not legally binding.
Further Insights:
While the provided sources do not explicitly contain details about the court ruling in question, they do highlight related topics:
- Censoring Opinions: The issue of curbing free speech and the right to express opinions has been a topic of debate in various contexts, such as social media platforms and academic institutions, like universities.
- Transgender Issues in Science: Transgender issues in the field of science, particularly biology, have been a contentious topic, sparking debates, protests, and opinions from various perspectives.
- University Policies and Controversies: Universities often face challenges regarding their educational policies, thus creating opportunities for discussions and debates, much like the scenario discussed in this article.
In conclusion, while there isn't specific court ruling information about Humboldt University and the scientist in the provided sources, the topic of curbing free speech, managing controversial debates, and university policies is relevant.
