Czech paper Deník covers story about Middle East analyst Mithcell Belfer's refusal to reveal where his PhD is from
The following blog post is translated using Google Translate (so expect some errors). The original article can be found here, written by journalist Jakub Zelenka
We were shocked. ”A recognized expert on the Middle East graduated from a university in Prague, unable to prove his doctoral degree
University educator Mitchell Belfer taught for years at the Metropolitan University in Prague and his opinions were printed by prestigious media such as the Wall Street Journal and France 24. However, the university quietly ended his cooperation with him this year - he could not prove his doctoral degree. Belfer himself considers the case a disinformation campaign.
At the end of July, the Metropolitan University in Prague (MUP) received a warning that Mitchell Belfer had probably lied about his doctoral degree. The university launched an investigation and finally ended its cooperation with the employee after more than fifteen years. Belfer lectured at the Department of International Relations and European Studies, now his name has disappeared from the school's website.
"It simply came to our notice then. He was a reliable colleague who always did all the work and who had one of the best ratings at the university. He had a reputation abroad. There was no indication at all that anyone should doubt anything, “describes the situation for Deník N, MUP director Marek Beneš.
"We have been asked to complete the missing documentation for his doctoral education, which he has not done yet, but we are constantly reassured by him that he will document and explain everything," says the director of current communications with Belfer, who now lives abroad. However, the school is planning a meeting with him this week and will give him a chance to explain everything.
Until then, Beneš does not want to draw conclusions. "We would not like to provide anyone with information that could prove inaccurate, as long as we are absolutely sure of the findings, so that we do not unjustifiably harm anyone. In any case, it is already probable that he withheld some information from us, "he admits.
Belfer communicated with the editorial staff of Deník N via his twitter account. He justified this by saying that his e-mail had been compromised. "All the allegations are untrue. I am a victim of a disinformation campaign. The threats also affected my family, "he said without further details as to who should be behind the alleged dishonesty. He only wants to explain everything in person.
At the end of July, however, the school terminated all contractual relations with Belfer and handed over his work to other employees. "So far, we perceive this as a temporary measure until everything can be completely clarified," Beneš points out. According to him, the school also checked other employees and their titles. However, according to the director, no further mistakes were found.
"Unfortunately, more than fifteen years ago, one of the two employees whose task was to check all the documents did not do this and in this one case, for an unknown reason, checked only two of the three documents on education," describes Beneš, according to which the employee at school does not work.
According to the MUP, Belfer was never the guarantor of any study program or field, but he led some subjects as well as final theses. "As for the final theses of students, they are always defended before a three-member commission," says Beneš. According to him, only Belfer did not decide on the quality of work and the successful fulfillment of all conditions and defenses.
Comments in the world media
Belfer's story was also followed by open source blogger Mark Owen Jones. He became interested in academics in 2011, when his commentary appeared in the prestigious Wall Street Journal. His text was also published in the American magazine National Review.
As an expert on the Middle East, Belfer spoke in the prestigious media, for example, about the Arab Spring. He was also the editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed Central European Journal of International & Security Studies (CEJISS), published by the Metropolitan University of Prague. Even Belfer's name has disappeared from his pages, but the texts are still traceable in the magazine. One of the latter deals with the coronavirus pandemic.
Belfer has also appeared in the world media as president of The Euro-Gulf Information Center (EGIC), which aims to "build a bridge" between Europeans and Arabs. The site, where it would be written about him and his collaborators, is now under reconstruction. However, the web archive shows that Belfer is in the position of president. His Twitter is now also locked and there are no public posts on him.
The EGIC website also stated that the organization is under attack by anonymous accounts that spread misinformation. According to the organization, the goal of these attacks should be to endanger its work.