Hinaiti, a Jordanian lecturer at the College of Education in Hail University, has been dismissed from her post with immediate effect. She was accused of insulting a student from one of the tribes in the region. The female lecturer denies the charge vehemently and claims that the University's President Dr. Khaleel Al-Brahim did not conduct an investigation into the matter, according to a report in a local daily. Ismail Ahmad Al-Mibyadhain, the husband of the aggrieved academic, has called upon Prince Saud Bin Abdulmohsen, Emir of Hail region, and Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari, Minister of Higher Education, to look into the incident. He said, “Our trust is great in the rulers' justice in Saudi Arabia and we hope they will uncover the violations by the university. It is completely unacceptable that they have issued false statements against my wife. Her reputation has been tainted unfairly and as a result the public now view her with grave suspicion. We want a full disclosure of the facts pertaining to this episode so that my wife can be exonerated.” Meanwhile, Dr. Al-Hinaiti said, “During one of my lectures, I touched on the subject of being open to other cultures and adopting what suits our societies. There was a long discussion and I had a list of female students that included some from a certain tribe. “I took this tribe as an example. I said, ‘Thirty years ago, did your families allow daughters to go to universities?' One student said, ‘No, but now people are more open'. At this point, some female students from other tribes smiled. I felt it might lead to a misunderstanding, so I ended the discussion. “A week later, I was surprised to find that the university had decided to dismiss me from my post. The president of the university claimed that I had been investigated and that I had admitted to all the charges against me. This, however, is not true. I can categorically state I do not accept that I am guilty in this matter.” Dr. Al-Hinaiti's case is further strengthened by the support she has received from her students. Thirty-three students of her class have testified in writing saying, “We the female students of 4th year physics who attended the lecture on Sunday 23/5/1433H testify that there was no insulting of the... tribe with any immoral or condescending words. The lecturer acted in good faith as always. She merely asked if the... family is open to allowing its daughters to go to institutions of learning. One of the girls of the tribe replied that some allow their daughters while others do not. We are responsible before Allah and we confirm that the female lecturer is a virtuous person, well-mannered and a great role model. She did not insult the girls of the... tribe. We demand an investigation with statements from all the students.”
