The Mitchell Belfer saga gets stranger. The Czech paper Denik, which previously ran a story about Belfer being investigated by the Higher Education Board for not providing his doctoral credentials, has now stated that it was satisfied that the Metropolitan University of Prague has seen his credentials.
In my view, this raises far more questions than it answer. Why did it take years to get information about these credentials, and why was Belfer dismissed after the university investigated him for being unable to prove his credentials (which they admit they did not check)? Why did the Higher Ed board rely on the MUP to determine that the doctoral check was sufficient, when the MUP potentially have a role in covering up any embarrassment? MUP director Marek Benes initially said Belfer’s suspension was ‘temporary’, so why have they not reinstated him? Where is the PhD from – do Denik care? Why is the EGIC website still not showing its staff (article claims it was hacked but this is clearly absolute BS – you don’t just hack a page on a website). Why are MUP staff so cagey about the whole thing? It does not seem to add up. Below is a translation of the Denik article (Google Translate):
The academic eventually proved his degree, but did not return to university. He faces suspicions of siding with the Arab kingdom
University teacher Mitchell Belfer, who had doubts about the legitimate use of a doctoral degree, finally proved it to the Metropolitan University of Prague (MUP). However, the school did not resume cooperation with him. According to the Diary N, she lost confidence in him because she suspected that she was siding with Bahrain.
Until recently, Belfer, a Middle Eastern expert, was the prominent face of this private university. According to its director Marek Beneš, he was popular with students, he also performed at international conferences and was given space by world media such as the Wall Street Journal and France 24.
During the summer holidays, however, his name began to disappear from the school’s website, and Belfer also lost his position as editor-in-chief of the acclaimed peer-reviewed Central European Journal of International & Security Studies (CEJISS) .
Based on the warning, the MUP found out that there were no documents confirming the acquisition of his Ph.D. degree, and terminated all contractual relations with the teacher from the Department of International Relations and European Studies at the end of July . She asked him to supply the relevant materials.[TIP: Summary of the day according to the editors of Deník N. Subscribe to Notes with a selection of the most important events of the day with links to interesting texts. ]
The school later reported the matter to the National Accreditation Office for Higher Education. “MUP informed us about the results of the investigation of the case and about the measures it took in this regard. According to our information, the teacher provided proof of education in the doctoral programadditionally proved to the university. We consider the measures taken by the MUP to be adequate, “Ivan Barančík, the chairman of the office, told Deník N at the end of September.Read also”We were shocked.” A recognized expert on the Middle East graduated from a university in Prague, unable to prove his doctoral degree
However, even the completion of the missing documents did not help Belfer to return to the Metropolitan University.
Due to the incident with the title, the school became more interested in his activities. According to Deník N, some colleagues suspected before the case that Belfer was not an impartial academic, but that in his texts and statements he sympathized with Bahrain and its close ally Saudi Arabia, which was vying for influence in the region with Iran.
Belfer, for example, did not use the international and academic designation of the Persian Gulf region – its subject was called The Geopolitics of the Arabian Gulf. This name is demonstratively used by Saudi Arabia and its local allies. From the point of view of a Czech observer, this may be a detail, but it arouses great passion in the area. Iran, for example, expelled a steward ten years ago who used the name .
This name is also used by the Euro-Gulf Information Center Czech Republic , which Belfer founded three months ago “for the purpose of conducting activities aimed at developing and supporting social, cultural, strategic and economic relations between the Czech Republic and the Arabian Gulf states.”
The long-running Euro-Gulf Information Center, in which Belfer serves as president, also has a branch in Rome, where students from the MUP were able to go on an internship there thanks to the initiative of their former teacher.
“The school has established official cooperation with the organization. Now it turned out to be problematic, so she ended it, “a source from MUP described Deník N. If students leave for an internship, no credits will be credited to them.
The director of MUP Beneš did not want to comment on the termination of this cooperation, as well as on the whole Belfer case. “It simply came to our notice then. He’s a former employee, so now really turn to him. We ended all cooperation with him and that is the end of it for us, “he told Deník N.
Earlier this year, Belfer met with Bahrain as president of the Euro-Gulf Information Center . Following talks, the foreign ministry announced that it had deepened research cooperation with the organization “to ensure a safer and more prosperous future for the region and the world.” The academic also worked in the country six years ago as an observer of the non-free elections there .
Information about Belfer’s organization is now difficult to obtain from its official website, and it is only from an incomplete archive. After the outbreak of the case, the website is partially inoperable. A former MUP teacher claims that hacker attacks are to blame.
Belfer declined to comment on his ending in college. “We ended our cooperation on July 31st. I do not want to give further details, “he said.
The academic admitted that Bahrain is very close to him. However, he denied promoting his interests in Europe. “I do not hide the fact that I am fascinated by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. I wrote a book about the security situation in Bahrain. But I categorically refuse to lobby for Bahrain and other countries. Neither in the EU nor in the Czech Republic, “he told Deník N.
Fear for life
Belfer also claims that he has threats and is afraid for his life. “I was threatened with death and I am constantly harassed. This is also happening to my sister and other loved ones, and it is related to the Cold War in the Middle East, “he described, referring to the aforementioned rivalry between Tehran and Riyadh.
The case is said to be under investigation in five countries. “Forensic scientists have asked me not to share any information about the cases. I will only confirm the investigation in Italy, “he told Deník N.
According to a former MUP teacher, the attacks are related to his work because they focus on terrorism in Europe and Lebanese Hezbollah (linked to Iran and its revolutionary guards), which is considered a terrorist organization in the United States or the EU. A video has also appeared on the Internet describing him as an agent and lobbyist of Bahrain (the editors do not publish a link to the video, as it may be a discrediting campaign ).
Marc Owen Jones 
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