-In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful-
Assalamu alaykum (peace be upon you),
You may have heard of the recent event at UC Irvine with Michael Oren, the ambassador of Israel to the US.
While he was invited by a student organization to speak on US-Israeli relations, the UCI Law School and the Political Science Department cosponsored the speech by Oren, a public figure who represents a state that continues to commit more human rights violations than any other country. See the MSU’s statement regarding his presence on campus for more details: msuuci.com
At the event, 11 students who chose to protest by making clear and organized statements were arrested and held in a room until after the event. The school is also currently threatening to punish the students, aiming to send a political message by selective enforcement of university policies.
Contact UCI Chancellor Michael Drake NOW to declare that it is unjust to arrest these students. Supporters of the arrests are contacting administration in large numbers, and your support is needed desperately!
Ask to speak with Chancellor Drake or leave a message at: (949) 824 – 5011 and email him at: chancellor@uci.edu
Speak to the Dean of Students office, who are determining the punishment at: (949) 824-5181 and email them at: deanstu@uci.edu
Here are some important points to bring up:
- · It was unjust to arrest students for simply having the courage to stand up and speak out against a man responsible for propagating the deaths of thousands of innocent people.
- · Civil disobedience has historically played an instrumental role in the civil rights movement in America the eventually ensured equality and human rights for all minorities.
- · Michael Oren is a representative of a state that is condemned by more UN Human Rights Council resolutions than all other countries in the world, and he should not be honored at UC Irvine.
- As concerned community members, we will not support an educational institution that threatens to punish its’ students with suspension and expulsion for standing up for their principles.
Thank you for your support.
Jazakum Allahu khairan.
I agree the Muslim students should not have been arrested for expressing their views. But how come the Muslim students are allowed to invite Pro-Palestinian speakers, but Jewish students are not allowed to invite Pro-Israeli speakers? What would happen if a Pro-Palestinian speaker was prevented from giving a speech?
February 11, 2010
Dear Chancellor,
I am writing to protest the speed at which your security officers arrested the courageous students who confronted the Zionist ambassador. They should have given the students a couple more minutes to tell of the Israeli atrocities in Palestine, the collective punishment, house demolition, land confiscation, tree uprooting, history laden with blood and massacres, illegal usage of banned weapons, water theft, violation of international law, the usage of human shields, two billion dollars of payroll theft form Palestinian workers, just to name a few.
I am also writing to ask that the professor who threatened the students to have them “fail their exam” be reprimanded and be subjected to civil liabilities for malicious threat, untoward of a respected institution like yours. Professors who allow their personal bias to interfere in deciding the scholarly abilities of their students are a threat to educational institutions and must be weeded out.
Sincerely,
Maher A Josephson
Iowa City, Iowa
I just sent Chancellor Drake an Email. You can read its contents on my blog. I hope those brave students are relieved from unjust punishment.
Free speech is only for those whose speeches go along with the interests of the elite, it seems….
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