(CLEVELAND, OH, 3/8/24) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) today urged Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) to reverse the decision to suspend the student organization, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
According to a statement posted on the Instagram page of CWRU’s SJP, the university imposed an interim suspension on SJP for allegations members of the student organization have deemed to be a demonstration of the university’s targeting of students who support Palestinian voices.
The Instagram post stated, “This allegation by CWRU demonstrates that students who support Palestinian voices are guilty until proven innocent.”
CAIR-Ohio was contacted by members of the SJP in the Fall of 2023 for assistance in what the students felt was targeting and intimidation by the university administration.
CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Faten Odeh stated:
“CAIR-Ohio met with the university several times about their frequent contacting and questioning of the students, which students expressed caused them to feel unsafe and unwelcome. When we met with the administration, they told us that they were ‘waiting for the temperature to cool down.’ We are disappointed in Case’s decision to continue this pattern of behavior that is causing the students to feel that they cannot express their support for human rights for Palestinians.”
According to the students, the interim suspension of recognition prevents students from receiving any student organization privileges such as receiving funding.
In a statement sent to us by the students the members of the CWRU SJP reported allegations of relentless attacks and harassment from President Kaler’s administration:
“For the past two years under President Kaler’s administration, Case Western Reserve University’s Students for Justice in Palestine has suffered from relentless attacks and harassment. Now, students’ safety and academics are endangered as CWRU suspends our organization and launches an investigation on students advocating for Palestinian justice. Our futures are hanging in the balance by the CWRU administration’s prioritization of outside actors over students- a betrayal that has permanently cemented CWRU’s complicity in genocide in future history books.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. CAIR-Ohio has offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland & Northern Ohio Executive Director Faten Odeh, fodeh@cair.com, 216-830-2247