Muslim researcher assaulted at Aarhus University

A young researcher at Aarhus University, who has a Muslim background, was attacked at the university at the end of May.

Both police and an ambulance had to respond in May to Nobel Park, where a researcher at the Department of Culture and Society had been physically assaulted on university grounds.

This is reported by Aarhus University's media outlet Omnibus ( https://omnibus.au.dk/arkiv/vis/artikel/forsker-udsat-for-trusler-og-fysisk-overfald-paa-arts ).

Prior to this, the department had received threats.

This was told by department head Marie Vejrup Nielsen on Tuesday in a newsletter sent to all employees at the department.

In it, she describes it as 'an incident that attacked everything we stand for as a university.'

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Had to take sick leave after assault

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Marie Vejrup Nielsen describes that the department received threats directed at a younger research colleague.

- Threats that also challenged our right to even have the person employed, she writes.

Shortly after the threats, a physical assault occurred on the younger researcher, who according to Marie Vejrup Nielsen had to go through an extended period of sick leave.

It has made an impression on the department head to see an employee placed in that situation.

- But it has also in many ways sharpened my awareness of the responsibility we have to ensure that all employees and students can feel welcome and safe in their workplace and place of study, she says to DR.

Marie Vejrup Nielsen cannot say whether the researcher's Muslim background played a role in the threats and assault.

- That is what the police investigation will show. But it is clear that it is a possibility, she says.

East Jutland Police confirm to DR that they are investigating the case and are, among other things, looking into whether it may be a hate crime.

- There are no arrests or charges in the case, but it is naturally something we take very seriously. We have carried out a number of investigative steps, but we have not succeeded in finding a perpetrator, says Deputy Police Inspector Christian Riis in a written statement.

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