As the Committee of the Society for Old Testament Study, we wish to express our shock and sorrow that Professor Jan Joosten, a leading Old Testament scholar and, until recently, a member of the Society, has been convicted of the possession of images of the sexual abuse of children, and our horror at his crime. After being invited to do so, Professor Joosten has resigned his membership of SOTS. (Our rules contain no provision for terminating a person’s membership except for non-payment of dues.)
We should like to express our concern, firstly for the unknown children who are the ultimate victims of such crimes, and then for his family, his close colleagues, and students who have been under his supervision.
The Committee