Moroccan Author and Professor Denies Sexual Assault Allegations at University of Amsterdam

The case is known to the public following an article in the Dutch newspaper NRC published on December 16 last. According to its co-authors, the facts would date back to early 2017. The University of Amsterdam would have commissioned, at the beginning of December, the Berenschot Consultency firm to conduct research on a Moroccan professor of French literature after several complaints from anonymous students. The description of the accused: the professor is Moroccan, he is a writer and speaker, and has received several literary prizes, which led to the discovery that it was Fouad Laroui.

According to the same source, a 21-year-old third-year student would have "befriended" her French literature professor in 2016. The following year, this professor "had a burnout" and would have "become seriously ill". He would have invited the student to his home on a Friday the 13th after she had sent him an email to check on him before offering him a coffee. "What should have been a cup of coffee to support her overworked and depressed professor ended in an experience of sexual assault," continue the co-authors of the article.

On August 29, 2017, the student filed an official complaint, declared admissible three weeks later. In a conversation with the Moroccan professor, Fred Weerman, dean of the Faculty of Humanities, explained to him that his behavior was "inappropriate". This situation would have led to the suspension of Mr. Laroui. Other students from different classes would also have complained about the behavior of their French literature professor, the same media reports.

Contacted, he told the Dutch newspaper that the case was closed, and refused to respond to the multiple requests of the two journalists. Meanwhile, he told the Moroccan news site Le Desk that he was "in severe burnout that renders him incapable of doing anything." "In mid-January 2017, a former student came to spend three-quarters of an hour at my place, at her request. She makes me tea, we chat, etc. When she leaves, I give her a ’hug’ to show my gratitude, because I am touched by her gesture," says the Moroccan professor to the same source.

He denies any sexual assault. However, he acknowledges that his behavior was "inappropriate." "My former student says I ran my hand down her left side... I’m Mediterranean, not Calvinist, and I now recognize that my behavior was not appropriate." He describes the other complaints from other students as "abusive denunciations" and "pure defamation." The Moroccan and committed writer also says he is a victim of "ambient racism...in a country where the far right is very active."