Melbourne University Students for Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert: Announcement

4/8/2020

Issue 1, Volume 18

Out of respect for the wishes of her family, De Minimis has refrained from publicising the plight of jailed UniMelb academic Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert. However, in light of her recent transfer to the notorious Qarchak Prison, and after consultation with prominent journalists, we can no longer justify our silence.

Students and former students of Political Science, History, or Islamic Studies:
Did you take part in a course lectured or tutored by Dr Kylie Gilbert-Moore? For those who haven’t heard, our beloved University of Melbourne lecturer is currently imprisoned overseas. Students of Kylie and of the relevant schools are supporting one another and trying to advocate on her behalf, so that she may not languish in prison forgotten. If you took a class led by Kylie or would like to talk to the fellow University of Melbourne student cohort working on behalf of Dr. Kylie Gilbert-Moore, please contact Sarah McGovern at [email protected], or Max Ferguson at [email protected].

The group Melbourne University Students for Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert is comprised of Dr. Moore-Gilbert’s former students.

Nate

6/8/2020 06:15:39 pm

"Out of respect for the wishes of her family, De Minimis has refrained from publicising the plight of jailed UniMelb academic Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert. However, in light of her recent transfer to the notorious Qarchak Prison, and after consultation with prominent journalists, we can no longer justify our silence."

Can De Min confirm this publication is contrary to the wishes of KMG's family? If so, the deterioration of her situation (the prison move), and the "consultation" with some journas (who exactly?), doesn't justify this action.

The family's wishes likely reflect the best informed view of what would be in her interests.

I was a student of hers. Happy to participate in efforts like the one referred to here. But her release is going to involve very delicate diplomacy, and publicly railing against her treatment may harm, not help, her situation. So... please give us some assurance the family wants publicity like this. Or have they been told such efforts could jeopardise the diplomatic efforts?

Max Ferguson

6/8/2020 08:59:19 pm

Hey Nate,

First of all, I'd like to stress that De Minimis currently has no substantive pieces in the works regarding Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert. The quoted passage merely indicates a shift in De Minimis policy, which had hitherto actively avoided publishing anything related to Kylie for policy reasons.

I was fortunate enough to have a phone call last week with Prof. Peter Greste, who was himself imprisoned for over four-hundred days in an Egyptian prison. As noted, that conversation was a consideration in our decision to change our policy.

I would also note that since the change in Kylie's situation, her family have merely asked that their privacy be respected. De Minimis has no intention of contravening their wishes.

I'm more than happy to discuss this issue with you (or anyone else with concerns) in-depth, so please feel free to reach out to me at the email above, or via Facebook.

Cheers,
Max (Managing Editor)

6/8/2020 09:49:23 pm

Cheers for the response.
The sentiment is certainly laudable and everyone hopes Kylie returns home asap.

I appreciate this change in De Min's position has occurred. I'd simply caution against further developments. I'm sure De Min will be very careful about not harming her interests, and will continue to review its stance.

I appreciate Prof. Greste will have a useful perspective on the situation, but I doubt he's privy to the diplomatic efforts, or the family's preferences. Unless you've got an indication otherwise, he'd be speculating on the behind-the-scenes efforts

I'd also note that contrary to your comment the family has, in recent days, done more than "merely [ask] that their privacy be respected" They released a statement via a DFAT spokesman. That statement included the request for privacy, sure. But it also implicitly deferred to, and endorsed the approach of, DFAT.

The DFAT spokesperson (who, we can presume is far more informed about the situation than we are; is presumably a career diplomat or foreign affairs expert; and surely wants nothing more than her swift return) actually said: "We believe that the best chance of resolving Dr Moore-Gilbert's case lies through the diplomatic path and not through the media." (SMH 4/820)

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Melbourne University Students for Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert: Announcement

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