KAFILA – 10 years of a common journey

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.

1. Tariq Mehmood, American University of Beirut
2. A Nath, American University of Beirut
3. S Sunya, American University of Beirut
4. Lina Choueiri, American University of Beirut
5. Steven Salaita, American University of Beirut
6. Rania Masri, American University of Beirut
7. Rami Zurayk, American University of Beirut
8. Mansour Aziz, Independent Scholar
9. Susan Prattis, American University of Beirut
10. Jad Chabaan, American University of Beirut
11. Sari Hanafi, American University of Beirut
12. Karam Wahab, American University of Beirut
13. Giuliano Martiniello, American University of Beirut
14. Nikolas Kosmatopoulos, American University of Beirut
15. Mutasem Shehadeh, American University of Beirut
16. David Currell, American University of Beirut
17. Richard Saumarez Smith, American University of Beirut
18. Adam John Waterman, Department of English, American University of Beirut
19. Esmat Elhalaby
20. Alaa Hijazi, American University of Beirut
21. Ira Allen, American University of Beirut
22. Ayman Kayssi, American University of Beirut
23. Ray Brassier, American University of Beirut
24. Rola Hamam, American University of Beirut
25. Patrick McGreevy, American University of Beirut
26. Rima Karami Akkary, American University of Beirut
27. Jennifer Nish, American University of Beirut
28. Karim Makdisi, American University of Beirut
29. Tariq Tell, American University of Beirut
30. Lisa Hajjar, American University of Beirut
31. Hatim El-Hibri, American University of Beirut
32. Sonya Knox, American University of Beirut, alum.
33. Gregory Burris, American University of Beirut
34. Lamia Moghnieh, American University of Beirut, alum
35. Maria Gabriella Trovato, American University of Beirut
36. Alan Shihadeh, American University of Beirut
37. David Wilmsen, American University of Beirut
38. Diana E. Jaalouk, American University of Beirut
39. Vicken M. Margossian, American University of Beirut
40. Yusuf Sidani,  American University of Beirut
41. Nanor Bedoyan, American University of Beirut
42. Alice Kezhaya, American University of Beirut
43. Nicole Massoud, American University of Beirut
44. Steven McNamara, American University of Beirut
45. Jana Al Mawed, American University of Beirut
46. Ola Alhaj Hasan, American University of Beirut
47. Christina Batrouni, American University of Beirut
48. Georges Sacre, American University of Beirut
49. Noor Victoria Barrage, American University of Beirut
50. Aya Adra, American University of Beirut
51. Sylvain Perdigon, American University of Beirut
52. Tala Makhoul, American University of Beirut
53. Sarah Raii, American University of Beirut
54. Jana Nakhal, American University of Beirut
55. The Red Oak Club, American University of Beirut
56. Patrick Haddad, American University of Beirut
57. Reem Khalili, American University of Beirut
58. English Student Society, American University of Beirut
59. Sara Malaeb, American University of Beirut
60. Salwa Mansour, American University of Beirut
61. Maria El-Bitar, American University of Beirut
62. Amany Al-Sayyed,  American University of Beirut
63. Sarin Vosgerichian, American University of Beirut
64. Jana Kasab, American University of Beirut
65. Reem El Khatib, American University of Beirut
66. Dina Ayoub, American University of Beirut
67. Sahar Houri, American University of Beirut
68. Jad I.Tabet, American University of Beirut
69. Ibrahim Dahrouj, American University of Beirut
70. Tsolin Nalbantian, American University of Beirut
71. Sonia Nalbantian, American University of Beirut
72. Ghenwa Antonios, American University of Beirut
73. Diana Najiya, American University of Beirut
74. Rayan Baidoun, American University of Beirut
75. Georges Ekmekji, American University of Beirut
76. Carmen Ibrahim, American University of Beirut
77. Ali Ahmad, American University of Beirut
78. Ali El Mokahal, American University of Beirut
79. Ahmad El Amine, American University of Beirut
80. Ali Ajrouch, American University of Beirut
81. Yahya Obeid, American University of Beirut
82. Jason James Lemon, American University of Beirut
83. Monica Al Kassouf, American University of Beirut
84. Rachelle Dagher, American University of Beirut
85. Joseph Sayegh, American University of Beirut
86. Sara Baalbaki, American University of Beirut
87. Kevork Assadourian, American University of Beirut
88. Rasha Noureddine, American University of Beirut
89. Farah Taha, American University of Beirut
90. Vanessa Breeding, American University of Beirut
91. Serine Haidar Ahmad, American University of Beirut
92. Ekzarkova, American University of Beirut
93. Mona Fawaz, American University of Beirut
94. Jackson Allers, American University of Beirut
95. Mona Chebaro, American University of Beirut
96. Wassim El-Hajj, American University of Beirut
97. Nate George, American University of Beirut, alum.
98. Susann Kassem, American University of Beirut, alum.
99. Julien Allam, American University of Beirut
100. John Meloy, American University of Beirut
101. Krzysztof Fleszar, American University of Beirut
102. Farah Kobaissy, American University of Beirut
103. Sawsan Abdulrahim, American University of Beirut
104. Nidaa Aboulhosn,  American University of Beirut
105. Samar Ghanem, American University of Beirut
106. Rima Rantisi, American University of Beirut
107. Racha Chkair, American University of Beirut
108. Karim Eid-Sabbagh, American University of Beirut (Alumni)
109. Maher Jarrar, American University of Beirut
110. May Habib, American University of Beirut
111. Lara El Mekkawi, American University of Beirut
112. Amar Al Shabandar, American University of Beirut (Alumni)
113. Omar Talhouk, American University of Beirut
114. Ahmad Gharbieh, American University of Beirut
115. Omar Dewachi, American University of Beirut.
116. Carole Kerbage, American University of Beirut.
117. Abdel-Rahman, American University of Beirut
118. Sirene Harb, American University of Beirut
119. Malakeh Khoury, American University of Beirut
120. Khalil Makari
121. Christopher Bauer, American University of Beirut
122. Kathryn Lincoln, American University of Beirut
123. Nermine El-Horr, American University of Beirut
124. Sarwat Dabaga, American University of Beirut
125. Dima Nasser, American University of Beirut
126. Wael Itani, American University of Beirut
127. Rana Hassan, American University of Beirut
128. Sumayya Kassamali
129. Najla Jarkas, American University of Beirut
130. Ahmad Dallal, American University of Beirut
131. Zeinab Dalle, American University of Beirut
132. Doyle Avant, American University of Beirut
133. May Farah American University of Beirut
134. Nadya Sbaiti, American University of Beirut