February 23, 2016
We, the undersigned faculty, students, staff, and affiliates of the American University of Beirut are highly concerned over the recent repression of free speech and undue police and legal interventions at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
We condemn the police action at JNU, the arrest of the JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar on the charge of sedition, the unwarranted harassment of students and activists, the targeting of Umar Khalid, and the profiling of Kashmiri and Muslim students on campus. We denounce the repressive charges against Kumar and others, the violence against faculty and students, as well as police complicity in the beating of Kumar at the Patiala Courthouse.
We support the courageous work of JNU students and faculty who address pressing issues of social concern: inequality, brutality, and marginalization. We stand in solidarity with efforts to address injustices perpetrated under a military occupation that has wracked Kashmir for decades. We hold that these injustices have been paradoxically perpetrated under systems of so-called justice: JNU student leaders were courageous in addressing the secret execution of Afzal Guru, whose case was carried out in absence of any due process, and whose killing has been condemned by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
While we recognize the critiques of military violence in Kashmir as distinct grievances, we note the repression of such critiques within a broader anti-intellectual regime. The actions against students at JNU, in tandem with the sedition charges against former Delhi University professor SAR Geelani and the recent targeting of Dalit student activists at Hyderabad University, reveal a troubling pattern emerging at Indian universities that stifles critical thinking, dissent, scholarship, and debate. From Lebanon, we stand alongside international scholars who have drafted and signed numerous solidarity statements, shoulder-to-shoulder with the students, faculty and staff of JNU. These events have violated the autonomy of the university as a non-militarized space for freedom of thought and expression.
- Tariq Mehmood, American University of Beirut
- A Nath, American University of Beirut
- S Sunya, American University of Beirut
- Lina Choueiri, American University of Beirut
- Steven Salaita, American University of Beirut
- Rania Masri, American University of Beirut
- Rami Zurayk, American University of Beirut
- Mansour Aziz, Independent Scholar
- Susan Prattis, American University of Beirut
- Jad Chabaan, American University of Beirut
- Sari Hanafi, American University of Beirut
- Karam Wahab, American University of Beirut
- Giuliano Martiniello, American University of Beirut
- Nikolas Kosmatopoulos, American University of Beirut
- Mutasem Shehadeh, American University of Beirut
- David Currell, American University of Beirut
- Richard Saumarez Smith, American University of Beirut
- Adam John Waterman, Department of English, American University of Beirut
- Esmat Elhalaby
- Alaa Hijazi, American University of Beirut
- Ira Allen, American University of Beirut
- Ayman Kayssi, American University of Beirut
- Ray Brassier, American University of Beirut
- Rola Hamam, American University of Beirut
- Patrick McGreevy, American University of Beirut
- Rima Karami Akkary, American University of Beirut
- Jennifer Nish, American University of Beirut
- Karim Makdisi, American University of Beirut
- Tariq Tell, American University of Beirut
- Lisa Hajjar, American University of Beirut
- Hatim El-Hibri, American University of Beirut
- Sonya Knox, American University of Beirut, alum.
- Gregory Burris, American University of Beirut
- Lamia Moghnieh, American University of Beirut, alum
- Maria Gabriella Trovato, American University of Beirut
- Alan Shihadeh, American University of Beirut
- David Wilmsen, American University of Beirut
- Diana E. Jaalouk, American University of Beirut
- Vicken M. Margossian, American University of Beirut
- Yusuf Sidani, American University of Beirut
- Nanor Bedoyan, American University of Beirut
- Alice Kezhaya, American University of Beirut
- Nicole Massoud, American University of Beirut
- Steven McNamara, American University of Beirut
- Jana Al Mawed, American University of Beirut
- Ola Alhaj Hasan, American University of Beirut
- Christina Batrouni, American University of Beirut
- Georges Sacre, American University of Beirut
- Noor Victoria Barrage, American University of Beirut
- Aya Adra, American University of Beirut
- Sylvain Perdigon, American University of Beirut
- Tala Makhoul, American University of Beirut
- Sarah Raii, American University of Beirut
- Jana Nakhal, American University of Beirut
- The Red Oak Club, American University of Beirut
- Patrick Haddad, American University of Beirut
- Reem Khalili, American University of Beirut
- English Student Society, American University of Beirut
- Sara Malaeb, American University of Beirut
- Salwa Mansour, American University of Beirut
- Maria El-Bitar, American University of Beirut
- Amany Al-Sayyed, American University of Beirut
- Sarin Vosgerichian, American University of Beirut
- Jana Kasab, American University of Beirut
- Reem El Khatib, American University of Beirut
- Dina Ayoub, American University of Beirut
- Sahar Houri, American University of Beirut
- Jad I.Tabet, American University of Beirut
- Ibrahim Dahrouj, American University of Beirut
- Tsolin Nalbantian, American University of Beirut
- Sonia Nalbantian, American University of Beirut
- Ghenwa Antonios, American University of Beirut
- Diana Najiya, American University of Beirut
- Rayan Baidoun, American University of Beirut
- Georges Ekmekji, American University of Beirut
- Carmen Ibrahim, American University of Beirut
- Ali Ahmad, American University of Beirut
- Ali El Mokahal, American University of Beirut
- Ahmad El Amine, American University of Beirut
- Ali Ajrouch, American University of Beirut
- Yahya Obeid, American University of Beirut
- Jason James Lemon, American University of Beirut
- Monica Al Kassouf, American University of Beirut
- Rachelle Dagher, American University of Beirut
- Joseph Sayegh, American University of Beirut
- Sara Baalbaki, American University of Beirut
- Kevork Assadourian, American University of Beirut
- Rasha Noureddine, American University of Beirut
- Farah Taha, American University of Beirut
- Vanessa Breeding, American University of Beirut
- Serine Haidar Ahmad, American University of Beirut
- Ekzarkova, American University of Beirut
- Mona Fawaz, American University of Beirut
- Jackson Allers, American University of Beirut
- Mona Chebaro, American University of Beirut
- Wassim El-Hajj, American University of Beirut
- Nate George, American University of Beirut, alum.
- Susann Kassem, American University of Beirut, alum.
- Julien Allam, American University of Beirut
- John Meloy, American University of Beirut
- Krzysztof Fleszar, American University of Beirut
- Farah Kobaissy, American University of Beirut
- Sawsan Abdulrahim, American University of Beirut
- Nidaa Aboulhosn, American University of Beirut
- Samar Ghanem, American University of Beirut
- Rima Rantisi, American University of Beirut
- Racha Chkair, American University of Beirut
- Karim Eid-Sabbagh, American University of Beirut (Alumni)
- Maher Jarrar, American University of Beirut
- May Habib, American University of Beirut
- Lara El Mekkawi, American University of Beirut
- Amar Al Shabandar, American University of Beirut (Alumni)
- Omar Talhouk, American University of Beirut
- Ahmad Gharbieh, American University of Beirut
- Omar Dewachi, American University of Beirut.
- Carole Kerbage, American University of Beirut.
- Abdel-Rahman, American University of Beirut
- Sirene Harb, American University of Beirut
- Malakeh Khoury, American University of Beirut
- Khalil Makari
- Christopher Bauer, American University of Beirut
- Kathryn Lincoln, American University of Beirut
- Nermine El-Horr, American University of Beirut
- Sarwat Dabaga, American University of Beirut
- Dima Nasser, American University of Beirut
- Wael Itani, American University of Beirut
- Rana Hassan, American University of Beirut
- Sumayya Kassamali
- Najla Jarkas, American University of Beirut
- Ahmad Dallal, American University of Beirut
- Zeinab Dalle, American University of Beirut
- Doyle Avant, American University of Beirut
- May Farah American University of Beirut
- Nadya Sbaiti, American University of Beirut