Wayne State University Systematically Silencing Muslim, Arab Voices: Advocacy Group
This is according to the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which held a press conference Monday morning near WSU.
At the press conference, CAIR announced the designation of the school for "systematically silencing" Muslim, Palestinian, Arab and anti-genocide voices.
The university said in an emailed statement to the News that is deeply committed to supporting freedom of speech, expression and worship for all students, faculty and staff.
"As an institution of higher learning, we also continue to uphold our obligation to foster civil discourse and ensure – in a content-neutral manner – that conduct on our campus does not violate the law, infringe upon the rights of others, contravene university policy or disrupt university operations," the statement said.
Dawud Walid, CAIR-MI's executive director, stood in front of the university's green and yellow "W" with other group officials Monday and said the school is silencing the free speech rights of students.
"Students should be able to freely raise their voices without fear of ... administrative and even law enforcement measures taking place against them while they are attending a university that they pay tuition for and a place that's supposed to be a haven for liberal arts education," Walid said.
"As people, children in Gaza right now are facing starvation and ... Wayne State University is a school of higher education, we have a tradition in America in which political dissent is shown on university campuses and by student organizations. It goes back to the Vietnam War," he said.
Amy Doukoure, the organization's lead attorney, cited several incidents where students reported allegedly discriminatory practices from police and administration. She said those included dismantling a peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment that took place on campus, turning on sprinklers at Spirit Rock to "disrupt religious gatherings" and not allowing students to reenter campus events after stepping out to pray.
This year, CAIR-MI filed a complaint to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights after university police "grabbed, pulled (and) forcibly removed" Arab and Muslim students from a peaceful "anti-genocide" demonstration at its student center in April.
A group of WSU students also filed a lawsuit through Detroit's US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against the school over free speech allegations. Four students claim the school violated its constitutional rights during a 2024 protest against Israel's genocidal war in Gaza.
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The suit accuses WSU police and admin of violating the students' First Amendment, Fourth Amendment and 14th Amendment rights "through (the defendants') violent raid, mass arrests, and continuing retaliation" during the protest.
Over the last year, Mohammed Abuelenain, 21, said he has been noticing what he believes is an increase in Islamophobia from administration and campus police. He referenced officers allegedly surveying Muslim students at events as well as not allowing the students to use amplified sound at gatherings but allowing others to utilize speaker systems.
"We've seen police officers stationed in the student center, outside of the student center where they're normally not stationed and it's very clear to see that it's only when we're organizing these events," said Abulenain, a senior and chair on the Muslim Coalition at WSU.
"It started with pro-Palestinian protests but it stemmed further from that. We've seen instances of two scarved Muslim women being asked about their IDs although there was no probable cause ... administration has started to rollback on religious accommodations. We're trying to ensure our rights are being met as students and police aren't overstepping their boundaries."
CAIR officials said a representative from Wayne State University was on site at the press conference but did not clearly identify their position or role.
"Free speech is the cornerstone of the U.S. constitutional protections. Our colleges and universities are supposed to be places where students can freely debate, learn and grow through the exchange of ideas. Yet, here at Wayne State (University), administrators and police have chosen suppression over dialogue, silencing legitimate student voices on political and ideological self-interest," Doukoure said.
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"This is a betrayal of higher education's mission and a violation of our ... most fundamental freedoms. This designation is not symbolic. It is based on repeated and well-documented abuses against Arab, Muslim and pro-Palestinian students."
Source: detroitnews.com
