Civil Rights Group continues to monitor cases of academic freedom, students’ civil rights
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed the University of Maryland’s decision to drop most of the punitive conduct charges – which had been filed against two student journalists who were detained while covering a campus event – as a step in the right direction. The civil rights group applauded the student journalists’ courage in speaking out against the unjust attempts to punish their reporting.
SEE: UMD dismisses most conduct charges brought against student journalists
The university’s student conduct office dismissed three of the four charges brought against the student journalists, who were temporarily detained while reporting on a campus event and later faced accusations including disruption and disorderly conduct.
The two students were reporting for Al-Hikmah, a Muslim student publication, when they were detained by campus police last year. Their detention and subsequent disciplinary proceedings raised serious concerns among press freedom advocates, civil rights organizations, and journalism faculty about the chilling effect such actions could have on student reporters covering campus events and protests.
Last month, CAIR publicly called on the University of Maryland administration to immediately drop the charges, cautioning that disciplining student journalists for carrying out their reporting duties undermines press freedom and risks discouraging students from documenting matters of public interest on campus.
SEE: CAIR Calls on U. Of Maryland to Drop ‘Punitive’ Charges Against Student Journalists
SEE: The paper was her lifeboat — UMD called it interference
SEE: University of Maryland police detain student journalist covering protest
“The dismissal of the majority of these charges is a welcome and necessary step toward protecting press freedom on college campuses,” said CAIR Staff Attorney John Fossum. “Student journalists should never face detention or disciplinary proceedings simply for documenting events of public concern. When universities allow punitive measures against reporters performing their duties, it creates a chilling effect that discourages transparency and accountability. We hope this outcome reinforces that the rights of student journalists – including those reporting for Muslim student publications – must be respected and protected.”
“While this decision to drop the most serious charges begins to address the serious concerns raised, universities must demonstrate that they remain committed to safeguarding press freedom and ensuring that students engaged in legitimate reporting are protected rather than penalized,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “A free and independent press includes student media, and is essential to maintaining transparency and accountability on university campuses. Universities should foster an environment where reporting, inquiry, and civic engagement are protected – not punished.”
CAIR noted that journalism faculty and press freedom advocates across the University of Maryland community had also urged administrators to abandon the disciplinary proceedings, emphasizing that student reporters play a critical role in documenting campus events and informing the public.
The organization continues to monitor the case and other issues affecting the civil rights, academic freedom, and safety of Muslim students and other marginalized communities on college campuses across the state.
BACKGROUNDER:
On October 21, 2025, Sheikh, who is the founder of the university’s Muslim newspaper Al-Hikmah, and her colleague Rumaysa Drissi, decided to cover protests outside of Jimenez Hall, where a student group, Students Supporting Israel (SSI). was hosting an event that featured Israeli soldiers. Prior to the event, Sheikh and Drissi had asked SSI if they could report on the event from the classroom and were told no. So instead, they covered the protesters’ response outside, until they noticed protesters entering the building with their signs. Sheikh and Drissi decided to follow to capture first-hand footage and photography of a controversy as it unfolded – Sheikh filming on her cellphone, and Drissi taking photos on her camera.
The two student journalists were detained and slapped with student conduct charges by the university, including “intentionally and substantially interfering with the lawful freedom of expression of others” and “engaging in disorderly or disruptive action that interferes with University or community activities.” Videos of the incident show Sheikh and Drissi holding cameras as protesters held signs and chanted. Neither of the student journalists chanted, shouted or held signs while outside the event, according to the footage.
CAIR recently released a new report, “Designated: CAIR’s 2025 Hostile Campus Ratings Report,” evaluating 51 campuses that have engaged in the suppression and targeting of Muslim, Palestinian, Arab, and allied students speaking out against genocide from October 2023 to December 2025.
SEE: CAIR Report on Islamophobia and Free Speech Rates Columbia U., CUNY as Most Hostile Campuses
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR 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: CAIR Staff Attorney John Fossum, jfossum@cair.com; CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com