The International Islamic University Malaysia dismissed Solehah Yaacob in April 2026 after a viral 2022 lecture surfaced online wherein she claimed ancient Romans learned shipbuilding from Malay seafarers. Solehah is now challenging her termination in the Industrial Court, rejecting a six-month salary severance offer.
Here is why that matters for academic institutions worldwide. What happens when fringe historical theories collide with modern digital outrage?
The Anatomy of a Viral Dismissal
The controversy began with a lecture delivered on December 31, 2022. For nearly three years, the presentation by Solehah Yaacob—a scholar with a doctorate in Arabic linguistics—remained a routine academic recording. That changed on October 31, 2025, when the video resurfaced across social media platforms, sparking intense public debate and widespread skepticism over her assertions.
Rather than letting the digital storm pass, Solehah doubled down on November 9, 2025, publicly defending her thesis. Alongside the maritime claims, subsequent scrutiny highlighted other unconventional theories she had previously advanced. According to reports from Free Malaysia Today, these included assertions that Malaysian iron ore deposits resulted from meteor strikes, and that ancient Malays could fly and taught the Chinese flying kung fu.
The administrative response was swift. In a media release posted to Facebook by the International Islamic University Malaysia on August 23, 2026, the institution clarified that Solehah’s service ended effective April 27, 2026. The university explicitly stated that she is no longer a professor nor entitled to claim any association with the institution, noting that she is barred from using titles, positions, or official affiliations.
Legal Battles and Administrative Timing
The conflict has now shifted from digital comment sections to the courtroom. Solehah has taken the university to Malaysia’s Industrial Court, confirming that she rejected a severance offer equivalent to six months of her salary. “I was dismissed within 24 hours and not allowed to appeal,” she stated to Free Malaysia Today.
Adding a layer of institutional irony to the dispute, Solehah revealed that she was awarded a research award by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia just one day before her termination. She received the Malaysia Research (MyRa) Assessment award—a metric established in 2006 to evaluate the performance of Malaysian universities—highlighting a striking disconnect between national research evaluation bodies and internal university disciplinary actions.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2022 | Lecture on ancient shipbuilding delivered |
| Oct 31, 2025 | Video resurfaces and goes viral online |
| Nov 9, 2025 | Solehah publicly defends her claims |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Dismissal from International Islamic University Malaysia takes effect |
| Aug 23, 2026 | University issues public clarification; legal challenge to Industrial Court moves forward |
Navigating Academic Freedom in the Digital Age
But there is a catch.
Where should the boundary lie between protecting eccentric historical hypotheses and safeguarding a university’s global standing? Share your perspective in the comments below.
