Ghent University suspends Nathan Cofnas after plagiarism claims against late Cambridge professor

Disciplinary action in Ghent

Belgium's Ghent University announced on 20 August 2026 that it suspended postdoctoral researcher Nathan Cofnas as a precautionary measure. The university opened a preliminary disciplinary investigation to assess whether sufficient grounds exist to refer the matter to the competent disciplinary board. Rector Petra De Sutter, a former leader of the Green party, and Vice-Rector Herwig Reynaert confirmed the suspension in a formal statement, citing institutional commitments to human dignity and opposition to discrimination. The rector also expressed profound shock over the death of British sociologist Jason Arday. Cofnas announced the suspension on social media platform X on Thursday.

I was just suspended by Ghent University. They will almost certainly fire me.

Origins of the plagiarism accusations

The disciplinary step follows an escalating dispute that began in July 2026, when Cofnas published accusations against Arday on Substack. Cofnas alleged that Arday had plagiarised sections of his doctoral thesis and made inaccurate assertions on his curriculum vitae and academic history. British media outlets and conservative commentators rapidly circulated the claims, using them to challenge diversity, equality, and inclusion policies in higher education. Cofnas is known for advocating hereditarian theories regarding genetic influences on racial cognitive differences, positions that previously led to his departure from a Cambridge college in 2024. Previous plagiarism concerns regarding Arday had surfaced years earlier, but investigations ended after Arday threatened legal action against an inquiring journalist.

Resignation and death of Jason Arday

Arday gained national attention in 2023 when he was appointed as the youngest Black professor in the history of the University of Cambridge. Diagnosed with autism and developmental difficulties during childhood, the 41-year-old sociologist denied the plagiarism allegations but acknowledged having made errors in his work. Facing mounting public pressure and extensive press coverage, Arday resigned his post as professor of sociology of education on 5 August 2026. In his resignation letter, he stated that he had reached the limits of what any individual could reasonably endure. On 14 August 2026, Arday was found dead at his home in Battersea, south London. Metropolitan police treated the death as non-suspicious, citing suspected suicide or natural causes, while Arday's family described the scrutiny as an organized bullying campaign.

Campus debates and academic freedom

Arday's death prompted widespread reactions across Britain and Belgium, with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling the incident a tragedy on many levels. The events divided academic observers into opposing camps. Supporters of Cofnas argued that he had acted as a whistleblower by revealing long-ignored problems in Arday's academic record, while critics accused him of pursuing a racially motivated pressure campaign. The suspension also prompted debate regarding the boundaries of the university's ethical code and open academic inquiry. In their joint communication, De Sutter and Reynaert emphasized the balance required between academic freedom and ethical responsibility.

We attach great importance to academic freedom and to open academic debate, even when views are controversial. However, that freedom is not unlimited. It goes hand in hand with responsibility and may be restricted in order to protect the rights of others.