Source: Alamy

A Facebook page called has attracted hundreds of ¡°likes¡± since it was set up last week.

The page was created after Times Higher Education revealed that Professor Docherty, a professor of English and comparative literature, was being charged with undermining the authority of his head of department.

He has been suspended since January, and as a condition of his suspension is not allowed contact with colleagues or students, and has been prevented from attending an event at the university and writing the preface to a book.

A second disciplinary hearing in the case was due to take place today, with a final hearing due to take place in September.

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Part of the evidence against him is that he sighed, projected negative body language and asked ¡°ironic¡± questions while interviewing candidates for a position at the department, THE understands.

This has been mocked on the Facebook page using an internet meme based on a scene from the Lord of the Rings films along with other pictures that ridicule the case.

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The page calls Warwick¡¯s suspension of Professor Docherty ¡°outrageous¡±.

¡°We believe this trumped up case is being used by Warwick University to silence dissenting voices,¡± it says.

A number of former students have also posted praise for Professor Docherty¡¯s teaching on the page.

Warwick has refused to comment on the case and the reasons for Professor Docherty¡¯s suspension, except to deny it is connected with his political views.

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david.matthews@tsleducation.com