U.N. Human Rights Watchdogs Blast Columbia for Using Immigration Status to Suppress Students’ Pro-Palestine Speech – The Intercept

United Nations Raises Concerns Over Treatment of Pro-Palestine Students at U.S. Universities

Introduction

A commission of top United Nations human rights experts has issued a series of formal letters to the leadership of five prominent U.S. universities, expressing serious concerns about the treatment of pro-Palestine student activists. This action highlights critical issues related to human rights, academic freedom, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focusing on quality education, peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Universities Addressed and Key Issues

1. Columbia University
2. Cornell University
3. Georgetown University
4. Minnesota State University
5. Tufts University

The letters, dated October 14, address concerns regarding the suppression of peaceful student protests supporting victims of the Gaza conflict. The UN special rapporteurs criticized university officials and U.S. law enforcement for arresting, suspending, and expelling students, as well as restricting their campus access and jeopardizing their immigration status.

Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals Emphasized

• SDG 4: Quality Education – The repression of student activism threatens academic freedom and the autonomy of educational institutions.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – The use of immigration authorities to detain and deport foreign students undermines justice and peaceful assembly rights.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Targeting international students disproportionately affects vulnerable groups and exacerbates inequalities.

Details of Alleged Violations

• Students were reportedly arrested and detained for peacefully expressing solidarity with Gaza victims.
• International students faced detention and deportation threats, leading to self-censorship and withdrawal from activism.
• Specific cases include Mahmoud Khalil, Mohsen Mahdawi, Leqaa Kordia, and Yunseo Chung at Columbia University, with reports of harsh detention conditions violating religious rights.
• Additional cases involve Rümeysa Öztürk (Tufts), Badar Khan Suri (Georgetown), Momodou Taal (Cornell), and Mohammed Hoque (Minnesota State).

UN Special Rapporteurs Involved

• Mary Lawlor – Human Rights Defenders
• Farida Shaheed – Right to Education
• Irene Khan – Freedom of Opinion and Expression
• Gina Romero – Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
• Gehad Madi – Human Rights of Migrants

Impact on Academic Freedom and Student Activism

The letters warn that the pressure exerted on universities, particularly Columbia’s compliance with federal demands, has created a nationwide chilling effect on Palestine solidarity movements and broader political activism. Students report:

• Self-censorship of political expression.
• Reduced participation in campus organizing, especially among international students fearing deportation.
• An intimidating environment that suppresses free speech beyond the Israel-Palestine context.

Requests to Universities

The UN special rapporteurs have requested the universities to:

• Provide information on the allegations of mistreatment of students.
• Detail measures taken to protect the rights of students and scholars.
• Explain plans to safeguard freedom of expression and assembly on campus.

Conclusion

This intervention by the United Nations underscores the importance of upholding the Sustainable Development Goals related to education, justice, and equality within academic institutions. Protecting the rights of students to peacefully express their views is essential for fostering inclusive, peaceful, and just societies as envisioned by the SDGs.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The article discusses the repression of student protests and the impact on academic freedom and the autonomy of universities, which relates directly to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The targeting and detention of international students, particularly those from marginalized groups, highlight issues of inequality and discrimination.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article addresses human rights violations, repression of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the rule of law, all central to SDG 16.
4. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Issues such as restrictions on religious expression related to gender (e.g., not allowing hijab in detention) imply concerns related to gender equality and women’s rights.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote human rights, gender equality, and global citizenship.
   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
4. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicators related to SDG 4 (Quality Education)
   • Indicator 4.a.1: Proportion of schools with access to safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments.
   • Implied measurement of academic freedom and freedom of expression within educational institutions.
2. Indicators related to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
   • Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting discrimination or harassment based on various grounds including nationality.
   • Data on detention and deportation rates of international students as a measure of inequality and discrimination.
3. Indicators related to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)
   • Indicator 16.10.1: Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates.
   • Indicator 16.3.2: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (related to detention conditions).
   • Measurement of restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in universities.
4. Indicators related to SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
   • Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex.
   • Implied indicators on religious and gender-based discrimination in detention facilities.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theintercept.com