Jan Joosten convicted for possession of child abuse media

THIS IS HORRIFIC: Oxford professor sentenced to jail in France over child abuse images. Former pastor Jan Joosten receives year’s sentence for downloading 28,000 images and videos (Archie Bland and Jon Henley, The Guardian).

Jan Joosten is Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford University, one of the most prestigious chairs in the field internationally. Oxford has suspended him from his academic post, "pending further action." A statement from Christ Church College, Oxford, is here.

It is difficult to express how horrifying this story is. Appalling and disgraceful. The entire field of biblical studies is reeling from it. My heart goes out to the victims.

UPDATE (5 July): As of 3 July he is no longer affiliated with Oxford University in any way.

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