Federal Investigations Initiated into Alleged Anti-Muslim Bias at Emory, Columbia Universities
The US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (ORC) has informed the Council on American Islamic Relations - Georgia (CAIR-GA) and Palestine Legal of its commitment to investigate allegations of discrimination at Emory University, as per Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
This follows an 18-page complaint submitted on April 5, detailing harassment, doxing, and unequal treatment of Muslim and pro-Palestine students since the previous October.
"The students filed 15 cases through the Emory University system but nothing was done to address their issues and fears. Some students were too afraid to leave their college dorms", executive director of CAIR Azka Mahmood told Middle East Eye.
Columbia University also faces an ORC probe for anti-Palestinian bias after NYPD officers arrested numerous students protesting the university's investments tied to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.
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“The law is clear, if universities do not cease their racist crackdowns against Palestinians and their supporters – they will be at risk of losing federal funding,” asserted Radhika Sainath, senior staff attorney at Palestine Legal.
Earlier in January, human rights groups, including CAIR, had petitioned Emory to heed student grievances. “Emory University rejected all complaints, brushed them aside, essentially saying ‘there is no problem here’,” Mahmood said.
On April 30, CAIR-GA and Palestine Legal received ORC's confirmation of the investigation's commencement. This inquiry is set against a backdrop of widespread student demonstrations against Israel's military actions in Gaza, with over 90 solidarity encampments established at US universities and 2,000 arrests reported since mid-April.
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The ORC's letter clarifies its intent to examine whether the universities' responses to harassment allegations based on national origin or race align with Title VI requirements and if any differential treatment occurred.
"We welcome that this investigation has been launched, it shows that universities will be held accountable," Mahmood told the Middle East Eye, expressing hope for Emory to implement reforms for a more inclusive student environment.
This case is among several recent Title VI filings concerning Islamophobia on US campuses, potentially setting a precedent for further investigations across the nation.
Source: Agencies
