{
  "id": 2825281,
  "title": "Controversial lecturer Solehah to challenge termination by IIUM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/controversial-lecturer-solehah-to-challenge-termination-by-iium-2825281",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T15:41:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/23/controversial-lecturer-solehah-to-challenge-termination-by-iium"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) professor Solehah Yaacob is contesting her dismissal and has accused the institution of unprofessional conduct. Solehah claims she was fired within 24 hours without the opportunity to appeal. The university stated that Solehah was terminated in April and ceased to hold her professorship from April 27. Additionally, IIUM stated that she was barred from using any titles or positions affiliated with the university or claiming any association with the institution. Solehah maintains that her dismissal was unprofessional, particularly given that she had received the Malaysia Research Assessment award from the higher education ministry the day prior. Notable for her outspoken views on Malay history and civilization, Solehah made controversial claims such as the Romans learning shipbuilding from Malays and that Malaysia's iron ore deposits resulted from meteor strikes.",
  "summary": "The academic says she is going to the Industrial Court as she was not allowed to appeal against her 24-hour dismissal.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "UIAM tamat khidmat Solehah Yaacob",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/uiam-tamat-khidmat-solehah-yaacob",
        "published": "2026-08-23T05:38:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Solehah Yaacob no longer with IIUM after Roman-Malay shipbuilding claim",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/solehah-yaacob-no-longer-with-iium-after-roman-malay-shipbuilding",
        "published": "2026-08-23T07:13:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}