The apparent silence on the pro-Palestinian movement at New York University Abu Dhabi has “shattered the perception” that the institution can offer true academic freedom on its campus in the United Arab Emirates, according to critics.
Leaders at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have reported being detained, interrogated, and even expelled for failing to protect students and faculty for expressing solidarity with Palestine.
Ahead of graduation ceremonies last May, students were banned from wearing keffiyeh scarves or other decorations on their costumes, which are seen as a symbol of solidarity, and many students were asked to join outgoing NYUAD Vice Chancellor Mariet Westerman or NYU. Linda refused to shake hands with President Linda. As a result, Mills.
One student, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: Times Higher Education It showed “widespread student discontent with censorship and excessive security at events” and was further evidence of the government's “hostile” attitude towards any expression of solidarity with Palestinians following Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.
He added, “The atmosphere among students was one of extreme frustration and fear, as even small expressions of solidarity were met with very harsh punishment from the administration.”
Paula Chakravartty, a professor of media, culture and communication at NYU, said American campuses are also repressive toward students, but unlike the UAE, at least students have access to lawyers and rights outside of university. As a result, she said, there was a “serious” level of fear within the branch as large groups of international students were at risk of deportation.
Chakrabarti, who is also vice president of the NYU chapter of the Association of American University Professors, said academics are most concerned that NYU leaders are using the UAE government's threat of sanctions to “create a chill in their speech about Palestine.” Essentially a threat and termination” conversation.
“What we worry about is that NYUAD is doing the dirty work for the UAE administration. They claim to be doing it because of NYU… when in fact they are actively doing it. NYU is a university and promotes academic freedom and its principles. “I’m worried because I have to.”
NYUAD also restricted pro-Palestinian rallies and trainings, posting banners and social media posts, and disciplined students who expressed discontent, according to the AAUP.
Mohamad Bazzi, an associate professor of journalism at NYU, said the original promise that the Abu Dhabi campus would maintain the same level of academic freedom as NYU has proven false, as has the idea that NYUAD now operates “in an academic bubble.” ”
“They were really trying to sell this idea of an academic bubble, and I think the recent crackdown has broken that too,” he said.
“The idea that we can somehow separate the campus from the foreign and security policy of the UAE is absurd.”
Bazzi, who was denied a NYUAD lecturer visa from the UAE in 2017, said the crackdown on academic expression and freedom of expression will make it more difficult to persuade academics to work at NYUAD.
“This shatters the perception that the administration can somehow maintain academic speech areas on campus,” he added.
Sarah McLaughlin, senior scholar of global expression at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said U.S. universities like NYU are “falsifying the academic freedom and free speech protections afforded to students on satellite campuses.” “By expressing this, we have worsened this oppressive environment.”
And in a letter, the Association for Middle Eastern Studies accused NYU of being “complicit in repression perpetrated by UAE authorities and mocking the “core values” NYU advocates.
In response, NYU said that its academic authority was guaranteed in Abu Dhabi, and that subjects including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other related issues continued to be taught without any interference.
A spokesperson said NYU students or faculty are not “exempt from local laws” and that NYU has no authority over the country's immigration or law enforcement actions or decisions.
“Because of this reality, we are making significant efforts to ensure that our community members understand the culture and laws under which they pursue their studies and scholarship, and to clearly and repeatedly advise them of expectations, obligations, and boundaries, including the NYU Abu Dhabi Graduation Protocol. “He said.