Ghent University suspends Nathan Cofnas, the academic who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism, as a precautionary measure pending a disciplinary investigation

Ghent University has suspended Nathan Cofnas, a postdoctoral researcher who accused the late Jason Arday of plagiarism, pending a preliminary disciplinary investigation. The university stated it was “shocked” by Arday’s death and emphasized its commitment to opposing discrimination and racism while upholding academic freedom.¹²⁵

Cofnas, who described himself as a “race realist,” claimed to have used plagiarism detection software on Arday’s work, alleging that “many passages are lifted with minimal editing.” His accusations led to intense scrutiny of Arday, who resigned from his position at Cambridge just days before his death on August 14.

In a post on X, Cofnas stated, “I am under investigation by my university for discriminating against Arday,” and expressed concern about his job security, saying, “They will almost certainly fire me.”

The university’s rector, Petra De Sutter, and vice-rector, Herwig Reynaert, released a joint statement emphasizing the importance of academic freedom, stating, “It goes hand in hand with responsibility and may be restricted in order to protect the rights of others.” They also noted that Arday’s death should “prompt reflection” on how individuals are treated in academic discourse.

Cofnas’s allegations raised questions about Arday’s achievements, including claims of running 30 marathons in 35 days and raising over £5 million for charity. Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, faced weeks of media scrutiny before his untimely death.

The university is currently assessing whether there are sufficient grounds to refer the case to a disciplinary body for further consideration.