The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is deeply concerned about CUNY Law School’s cancellation of its student commencement speech.
Every year, CUNY Law permits a student speaker chosen by their student population to address the graduates and the ceremony audience. The last two years have seen CUNY Law embroiled in controversy for speeches given by Nerdeen Kiswani (2022), and Fatima Mohammed (2023), mainly because they expressed Pro-Palestinian stances. In both instances, CUNY Law School failed to support their students’ right to speak freely against external attacks, even when some of those attacks threatened the physical safety of the speakers.
At today’s commencement, CUNY Law did not permit any student speaker to address graduates. Invited speakers Deborah Archer, of the ACLU, and Mohammad Faridi, a respected attorney, both withdrew from the event reportedly because of the crackdown on student expression.
SEE: CUNY School of Law Cancels Student Commencement Speech
SEE: CAIR-NY Condemns CUNY Law Censorship of Muslim Student’s Pro-Palestinian Commencement Speech
In a statement, CAIR-NY’s Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq. said:
“CUNY Law’s decision to cancel its student commencement speech goes against basic principles of free expression and inclusivity of differing viewpoints. This bad decision represents a resounding blow to academic freedom.
“It is shameful to see a school like CUNY Law bowing down to external pressure instead of upholding its tradition as a place for legal activists to grow and challenge themselves and others.
“Speaking about Israeli apartheid and Palestinian human rights is not an exception to freedom of speech. Protecting the rights of students should be a fundamental commitment for higher education across the country.”
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, [email protected];
Saira Amar, CAIR-NY Communications Coordinator, [email protected]