Saudi university sacks academic over 'offensive' question

Cairo: A Saudi university has expelled a member of its teaching staff after he included a question deemed offensive in an English language test, Saudi news portal Ajel reported Wednesday.

The step was taken by the Islamic University in the holy city of Medina after an investigation was conducted with the lecturer of the preparatory year in post-graduate studies, according to the report.

The institution said tersely the inquiry proved the staffer had committed a violation and that his justification was found "unacceptable". Therefore, the university's president issued a decree excluding him from work, an official at the university said.

"Based on a report from the overseer of the preparatory year, it has been decided to exclude the professor of the subject matter from working at the university," said Hassan Al Oufi, the deputy head of Post-Graduate Studies and the university's spokesman. "The administration is keen to apply regulations against any violator of bylaws and systems followed at the university," he added without details.

Neither the name of the lecturer nor the contentious question was disclosed.