CAIR-NY Condemns CUNY Board of Trustees, Elected Officials for ‘Dishonest and Dangerous’ Attacks on Student Leader

Credit: Unsplash/Joshua Lawrence

(NEW YORK, NY - 5/31/2023) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today strongly condemned the City University of New York's (CUNY) Board of Trustees for launching a "dishonest and dangerous" public attack on student leader Fatima Mohammed, who has been experiencing harassment and threats.     

SEE: 'Unhinged': US politicians accused of bullying student over pro-Palestine speech      

In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:   

“CAIR-NY strongly condemns the City University of New York (CUNY) for joining dishonest, cowardly, and dangerous attacks on their own student leader, Fatima Mohammed, who has been relentlessly harassed by far-right media, Mayor Eric Adams, and multiple members of Congress and City Council. As an institution of higher education, CUNY has a responsibility to protect its students, even in the face of disagreement or discomfort, and its failure to do so is unacceptable.      

"Fatima's speech was submitted, examined, and pre-approved by CUNY in written form and a verbal recording. Furthermore, the speech was celebrated by the audience. CUNY student leaders, including the Jewish Law Students Association, have spoken up in her defense. Moreover, CUNY's mischaracterization of Fatima's speech as ‘hate speech’ is false and defamatory.     

"The right to free speech is a fundamental pillar of our democracy, and it is alarming to see an institution of higher education fail to defend it. By failing to support Fatima, CUNY is sending a message that it is willing to cowardly yield to pressure from those who seek to silence dissenting voices.      

"CAIR-NY further condemns those elected officials who have engaged in cyberbullying of Fatima. Due to their online targeting of her, along with the far-right media, Fatima has received death threats and a torrent of anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-immigrant threats. As elected officials who allegedly 'stand against all hate,' they found it acceptable to target a young, Muslim woman who dared to call attention to the injustice faced by Palestinians.     

"CAIR-NY demands that CUNY and all elected officials publicly denounce the attacks against Fatima and provide her with the necessary resources and support. We urge CUNY to live by its stated values and stop cowering to anti-Palestinian pressure.      

"CAIR-NY stands in solidarity with Fatima and all students targeted for daring to support justice for all. They will not be silenced, and we plan to continue to fight for the right to free speech and a just society. CUNY must take responsibility for its actions and do better, and we must hold them accountable until they do.”   

CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Ahmed Mohamed, CAIR-NY Legal Director, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com