A police officer stands by the entrance to Columbia University in New York City, where protests are being staged. Getty Images
A police officer stands by the entrance to Columbia University in New York City, where protests are being staged. Getty Images
A police officer stands by the entrance to Columbia University in New York City, where protests are being staged. Getty Images
A police officer stands by the entrance to Columbia University in New York City, where protests are being staged. Getty Images

Freedom of speech 'under assault' at Palestine protests in US universities


Adla Massoud
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After participating in a pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University in New York, Lebanese-American student Yasmine was detained by police — the first mass arrest on a US campus that has since ignited a student anti-war movement.

"What got me to protest was the disappointment with everything that was happening in the last six months [in Gaza] and feeling extremely helpless," Yasmine, who asked to be identified only by her first name, told The National.

With only two months left until graduation, Yasmine was suspended and is unsure whether she will be able to complete her degree in time.

She has to appear in court on May 8 for a 'violation' charge.

More than 100 students at Columbia were arrested last week for refusing to dismantle a protest encampment on the university’s main campus.

Part of a larger group advocating Palestinian rights, the students set up the camp on the central lawn of the school's upper Manhattan campus as a form of peaceful protest against what they describe as Israel's unjust actions against Palestinians.

The students have declared their intention to stay until the university agrees to divest from companies linked to Israel, ensure financial transparency and grant amnesty for faculty members connected to protests.

“We don't actually know what Colombia invests in and that's part of our tuition,” Yasmine said.

She added that the images of Palestinian suffering amid the siege of Gaza, as well as in the occupied West Bank, had left many students feeling powerless and the encampment was a response to the administration ignoring their demands.

“We are heart-broken by what's happening in Palestine every day,” she said.

“The essential goal is to divest funding from Israeli apartheid and to shed light on what's happening in Palestine.

Pro-Palestine protests at US universities – in pictures

  • Activists and students take part in an encampment protest at George Washington University, in Washington. AFP
    Activists and students take part in an encampment protest at George Washington University, in Washington. AFP
  • Students and faculty of Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania erect an encapment to protest against the war in Gaza, at the University of Pennsylvania campus, in Philadelphia. AFP
    Students and faculty of Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania erect an encapment to protest against the war in Gaza, at the University of Pennsylvania campus, in Philadelphia. AFP
  • Columbia University students continue their demonstration on campus afterlast week's arrest of more than 100 protesters, in New York City. Getty Images
    Columbia University students continue their demonstration on campus afterlast week's arrest of more than 100 protesters, in New York City. Getty Images
  • Police watch as students and faculty show support at a Protect Palestine Rally at the University of Texas, in Austin. EPA
    Police watch as students and faculty show support at a Protect Palestine Rally at the University of Texas, in Austin. EPA
  • A student is arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin. Getty Images
    A student is arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin. Getty Images
  • Students rally at the University of Texas at Austin, where police arrested scores of protesters. Getty images
    Students rally at the University of Texas at Austin, where police arrested scores of protesters. Getty images
  • Mounted police confront students protesting against the war in Gaza, at the University of Texas at Austin. Getty Images
    Mounted police confront students protesting against the war in Gaza, at the University of Texas at Austin. Getty Images
  • Pro-Palestine demonstrators argue with University of Southern California officials, who attempted to take down an encampment set up in support of Gaza, at the institution in Los Angeles. Getty images
    Pro-Palestine demonstrators argue with University of Southern California officials, who attempted to take down an encampment set up in support of Gaza, at the institution in Los Angeles. Getty images
  • University of Southern California police officers detain a pro-Palestine demonstrator. Getty Images
    University of Southern California police officers detain a pro-Palestine demonstrator. Getty Images
  • University of Southern California officers dismantle protesters' tents. EPA
    University of Southern California officers dismantle protesters' tents. EPA
  • Police stand guard at an entrance to Columbia University, in New York City, where students continue to protest in support of Palestinians, amid the war in Gaza. Reuters
    Police stand guard at an entrance to Columbia University, in New York City, where students continue to protest in support of Palestinians, amid the war in Gaza. Reuters
  • Najla Said, daughter of Palestinian-American academic and literary critic Edward Said, and Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza, join the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University. Photo: Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine
    Najla Said, daughter of Palestinian-American academic and literary critic Edward Said, and Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza, join the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University. Photo: Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine
  • As the campus protests continue, Columbia has moved its classes online. AFP
    As the campus protests continue, Columbia has moved its classes online. AFP
  • Workers erect a wooden barrier at New York University Stern School of Business after an encampment set up by students was cleared out on Monday night. Getty Images
    Workers erect a wooden barrier at New York University Stern School of Business after an encampment set up by students was cleared out on Monday night. Getty Images
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology student Isa Liggans, front left, takes part in Muslim prayer with others, at an encampment of tents at the college, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. AP
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology student Isa Liggans, front left, takes part in Muslim prayer with others, at an encampment of tents at the college, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. AP
  • Police officers disperse pro-Palestinian students and protesters who set up an encampment on the campus of New York University. AFP
    Police officers disperse pro-Palestinian students and protesters who set up an encampment on the campus of New York University. AFP
  • A protester outside New York University. Reuters
    A protester outside New York University. Reuters
  • Pro-Palestinian protesters gather in front of Sproul Hall on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. AP
    Pro-Palestinian protesters gather in front of Sproul Hall on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. AP
  • Pro-Israeli demonstrators chant 'shame' after Columbia University assistant professor Shai Davidai was denied access to the main campus. AP
    Pro-Israeli demonstrators chant 'shame' after Columbia University assistant professor Shai Davidai was denied access to the main campus. AP
  • A tent used by pro-Palestinian demonstrators at MIT. Bloomberg
    A tent used by pro-Palestinian demonstrators at MIT. Bloomberg
  • A coalition of University of Michigan students rally to pressure the university to divest its endowment from companies that support Israel. Reuters
    A coalition of University of Michigan students rally to pressure the university to divest its endowment from companies that support Israel. Reuters
  • A sign at the University of Michigan. Reuters
    A sign at the University of Michigan. Reuters
  • A pro-Palestinian protester in front of Sproul Hall in Berkeley, California. Getty Images / AP
    A pro-Palestinian protester in front of Sproul Hall in Berkeley, California. Getty Images / AP
  • Police officers detain pro-Palestinian students and protesters at New York University. AFP
    Police officers detain pro-Palestinian students and protesters at New York University. AFP
  • Police in Riot gear stand guard as demonstrators chant slogans outside the Columbia University campus. AP
    Police in Riot gear stand guard as demonstrators chant slogans outside the Columbia University campus. AP
  • Pro-Palestinian students and activists protest against the Israel-Gaza war on the campus of New York University. AFP
    Pro-Palestinian students and activists protest against the Israel-Gaza war on the campus of New York University. AFP

“Especially coming from, like, in America, which is Israel's number-one supporter, and gives it a carte blanche to do whatever it wants and break as many international laws as it wants.”

A resident fellow at Yale Law School, who asked to remain anonymous, told The National “divesting from weapons manufacturers is actually a low bar – that's what makes these protests so potentially explosive”.

In November, Columbia suspended the groups Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, which had organised the protest, for the rest of the autumn term, citing repeated breaches of school policies.

“They are still barred this term,” said Yasmine.

“Even though at every protest, there had been counter-protesters with students who stand with Israel, and who faced no backlash for also being there.

“It's a bit of a double standard in terms of how the institution has actually dealt with this.”

The protest at Columbia coincided with university president Nemat Shafik's appearance before Congress, during which she was grilled on Columbia's approach to fighting on-campus anti-Semitism.

During the Republican-led House committee hearing, Ms Shafik promised to address unauthorised protests more rigorously.

Protests continue at Columbia University after pro-Palestine encampment arrests – video

The protest, which began peacefully, escalated when participants refused to comply with university officials' orders to vacate the premises.

The next day, Ms Shafik enlisted the New York Police Department to remove the encampment, leading to more than 100 arrests and numerous student suspensions.

The incident has raised concerns in the Columbia community over the suppression of free debate, which is fundamental to the US educational ethos.

According to Mohamad Bazzi, director of the Kevorkian Centre for Near Eastern Studies at New York University, Columbia and Barnard College have been the most extreme examples where dozens of protesting students are facing disciplinary action.

“Students have lost their housing; they've been denied access to student housing. They might not be allowed to finish the term,” he told The National.

He added that the pillars of freedom of speech and liberty to protest are “definitely under assault” at these institutions.

“America's campuses and universities, especially for pro-Palestine speech … that’s been the dividing line that we've seen in the past few months.”

When asked if the protests were making life unsafe for Jewish students on campuses, Yasmine strongly disagreed.

“Most of the people who were with me in my jail cell were Jewish. The people on the encampment are from so many different backgrounds, like Arab, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Black, South-East Asian … it's very diverse.”

Students continue to maintain a protest encampment in support of Palestinians on the Columbia University campus. Reuters
Students continue to maintain a protest encampment in support of Palestinians on the Columbia University campus. Reuters

Helga Tawil-Srouri, associate fellow at NYU who has been at the school's encampment since it was set up on Monday morning, told The National administrators are “not holding up” their promises of academic freedom, freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.

“They're also being obviously very, very duplicitous and hypocritical about who can have such freedoms and who can't, and it kind of portrays very deep, fundamental kinds of problems about how university administrations deal with their own people,” she said.

“The students are really quite amazing in their own way. I think they're very politically aware, very politically astute. They're very … uncompromising, if I can say that, and they're willing to take a stand.”

Mr Bazzi noted that high-ranking staff within US universities are increasingly apprehensive over a potential backlash from Congress.

Only a few months before Ms Shafik appeared at the hearing, two university presidents who had also come under the congressional microscope over on-campus anti-Semitism resigned.

The resident fellow at Yale Law School said that when it comes to Israel, “there are sensitivities that are highly problematic”.

“Not only the establishment leaders in universities and key positions tend to not be representative of the broader public opinion, much less than a university student bodies opinion,” he said.

“But also, you have the entire donor class that is uniquely invested in the idea of Israel and the continuation of Israel's role of dominance, oppression in the region.

“What makes these protests really interesting is because they hold the potential to move the needle on some on this issue that is very, very intractable.”

He said it has become obvious that the “injustices” experienced by Palestinians are “irreconcilable with the stated values of western society”.

Despite the challenges, Yasmine has no regrets.

“It's created such a huge movement across campuses around the US,” she said.

“I feel it's kind of brought some inspiration and hope for a lot of people. And that's 100 per cent worth it for me.”

Pro-Palestine protests sweep across US campuses - video

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Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

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2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

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The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

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Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

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The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

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The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

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Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

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Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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