{"id":2197860,"date":"2024-03-12T18:39:02","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T22:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/penn-professor-who-cheered-on-hamas-attack-sues-university-to-thwart-congressional-investigation\/"},"modified":"2024-03-12T18:43:05","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T22:43:05","slug":"penn-professor-who-cheered-on-hamas-attack-sues-university-to-thwart-congressional-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/penn-professor-who-cheered-on-hamas-attack-sues-university-to-thwart-congressional-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Penn professor sues university to block congressional probe after supporting Hamas attack"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpenn-professor-who-cheered-on-hamas-attack-sues-university-to-thwart-congressional-investigation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2197860&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Penn Faculty for Justice\u2064 in Palestine takes legal action to halt\u200b federal investigation into campus anti-Semitism<\/h2>\n<figure><figcaption>Professor Huda Fakhreddine (@arablit\/Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>A University of Pennsylvania professor who openly supported Hamas&#8217;s terrorist attack \u200con\u2064 Israel is \u200csuing the university in an effort to prevent a federal investigation\u200c into\u2063 its handling of anti-Semitism on campus.<\/p>\n<p>Huda Fakhreddine, an <a href=\"https:\/\/mec.sas.upenn.edu\/people\/huda-fakhreddine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">associate professor<\/a> of Arabic literature at \u2064Penn\u2019s Middle East Center, filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/712490290\/Penn-McCarthyism-Lawsuit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lawsuit against the university<\/a> on Saturday. The lawsuit\u200b accuses Penn of suppressing anti-Israel speech and aims to stop the transfer of university documents to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.\u2064 Rep. Virginia Foxx (R., N.C.),\u2063 the committee&#8217;s chairwoman, had requested Penn&#8217;s internal discussions regarding anti-Semitic incidents \u200bon \u200dcampus in January.<\/p>\n<p>Penn has been cooperating\u200c with the request and started submitting documents to the committee last month. However, Fakhreddine, a vocal critic\u200c of \u200dIsrael who praised &#8220;Palestine&#8221; for &#8220;inventing a new way of life&#8221; during the Oct. 7 attack, \u200dwants the university to cease cooperation, citing privacy \u200bconcerns.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit states, &#8220;Penn&#8217;s \u2062ongoing\u200c cooperation with the Committee and disclosure of private and confidential information about the plaintiffs poses \u2064a threat of irreparable harm, \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-fired-family-doxxed-over-viral-video-of-alleged-homophobia-to-male-in-prom-dress-heres-his-side-of-the-story\/\" title=\"Man Fired, Family Doxxed Over Viral Video Of Alleged \u2018Homophobia\u2019 To Male In Prom Dress. Here\u2019s His Side Of The Story.\u00a0\">including death threats<\/a>,\u2064 rape threats, and hate speech.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Attorneys familiar with the case dismissed its merits, stating that Fakhreddine has no grounds against the university. They emphasized that the privacy argument in the lawsuit does not apply to \u200dstudents and faculty members who use university-owned emails.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine a court intervening,&#8221; \u200done attorney remarked.\u200b &#8220;Tough luck.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Neither Penn nor\u200b Fakhreddine responded to\u200c requests for comment. Fakhreddine, who joined the university in\u2062 2014, is known \u200bfor her inflammatory rhetoric against Israel on campus.<\/p>\n<p>On Oct. 7, she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jns.org\/upenn-fire-your-antisemitic-professors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">praised<\/a> Hamas&#8217;s terror attack, stating\u200c in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media post<\/a>, &#8220;While we were asleep,\u200b Palestine invented a new way of life.&#8221; She later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kasowitz.com\/media\/focjlca0\/university-of-pennsylvania-complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">justified the attack<\/a> as a &#8220;legal armed \u2064struggle by the Palestinian resistance\u200b against the occupier&#8221; under international law. She also participated in anti-Israel protests on campus, \u2062even cheering for a speaker who claimed that all Israelis are &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-endorses-ukraines-right-to-attack-russian-territory-despite-us-anxiety\/\" title=\"UK supports Ukraine's right to attack Russian territory, despite US concerns.\">legitimate military targets<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Prior to Oct. 7, Fakhreddine was one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedp.com\/article\/2023\/09\/penn-palestine-writes-literature-festival-magill-statement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">faculty organizers<\/a> of the Palestine Writes Literature Festival, which invited prominent anti-Semites to campus.<\/p>\n<p>One\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/campus\/pink-floyd-frontmans-nazi-uniform-was-no-big-deal-penns-anti-semitic-cartoonist-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">participant<\/a>, Pink Floyd \u200dfrontman Roger Waters,\u200d wore Nazi regalia during \u200da concert in Germany, blamed \u2063the Jewish state for\u2062 George Floyd&#8217;s death, and downplayed Hamas&#8217;s Oct. 7 attack by accusing Israel of &#8220;fabricating stories.&#8221; Others <a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/campus\/former-penn-president-signed-off-on-sanctions-for-speech-of-controversial-conservative-prof-she-let-an-anti-semitic-literary-festival-proceed-under-the-banner-of-free-expression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">have<\/a> compared Israel to \u2064the Nazis, claimed that &#8220;most Jews&#8221; are &#8220;evil,&#8221; and\u200d held \u2062Jews responsible for \u2064Europe&#8217;s economic downfall.<\/p>\n<p>Fakhreddine currently teaches a course at Penn titled &#8220;Arabic \u200bReadings in Belles-Lettres: Resistance \u2062from Pre-Islamic Arabia to Palestine.&#8221; She is joined in the lawsuit by <a href=\"https:\/\/live-sas-www-history.pantheon.sas.upenn.edu\/people\/faculty\/eve-m-troutt-powell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Eve M. Troutt Powell<\/a>, a professor of Middle Eastern history at Penn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What\u200c concerns have been raised by the public endorsement of a terrorist attack by a \u200buniversity professor, and how does it impact the campus\u2062 community?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  An Instagram post, &#8220;What excellent news! May Palestine invent new ways of life, resist subjugation, resist colonialism by any\u200b means necessary!&#8221; The post also featured a photo of the \u2062attackers with the caption \u200c&#8221;Power to the \u2064Resistance.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This public endorsement \u2063of\u200c a terrorist\u200b attack by a university professor has \u200dsparked controversy and concern among students, alumni, and the wider community. Many argue \u200cthat such rhetoric \u200dpromotes hatred and \u2062violence, undermines the university&#8217;s commitment to fostering diversity\u200b and inclusivity, and perpetuates\u2062 a hostile environment for Jewish students\u2062 on \u2064campus.<\/p>\n<p>Given \u2062the seriousness of the situation, it is understandable that Rep. Foxx and\u200c the House Committee on Education and the Workforce are\u2062 seeking\u2063 to investigate Penn&#8217;s handling of anti-Semitism. It\u200b is crucial \u2063to ensure that universities are taking appropriate measures \u2063to address incidents of hate and discrimination,\u2064 and to protect the well-being and safety of\u200b students.<\/p>\n<p>However, Fakhreddine&#8217;s\u200c lawsuit against the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/auburn-coaches-draw-legal-fire-from-powerful-atheist-group-over-spontaneous-mass-baptism\/\" title=\"Atheist group challenges Auburn coaches over mass baptism.\">university raises important questions<\/a> about the balance between protecting \u200cprivacy \u200brights and addressing \u200dconcerns about\u2062 campus anti-Semitic incidents. While privacy is a fundamental right, it \u200bshould not be used as a shield \u200cto prevent \u2064transparency\u200d and accountability in cases involving potential threats to student safety and well-being.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Fakhreddine&#8217;s claim\u200c of \u200b&#8221;irreparable harm, including \u200ddeath threats, rape\u200b threats, and hate\u200b speech&#8221; needs to be assessed critically. While it is essential to take \u200dany threats or harassment seriously, it is\u200b also important to distinguish between\u2063 genuine risks and mere speculation or exaggeration. The university should thoroughly investigate these claims to determine their validity.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, it is essential for\u2064 universities to strike \u200ba balance between protecting privacy rights and ensuring the safety\u2064 and well-being of their students. Open\u2063 dialogue\u2063 and constructive engagement should be encouraged, but hate speech\u200d and incitement to violence \u2062cannot be tolerated. \u200cUniversities \u200dhave a responsibility to create an inclusive and respectful environment for all \u2063students, regardless of their background or beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>In this particular case,\u2062 Penn must demonstrate its commitment to addressing anti-Semitism and fostering a safe campus\u200d environment for all students. Cooperating with the federal investigation and providing\u200d relevant documents is an important step towards\u2062 transparency \u2064and accountability.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, it\u2062 is crucial for the university to reassess its policies and procedures regarding hate speech and incitement on campus. Strict guidelines should be in place to \u200censure that faculty\u200d members, as well as students, adhere to principles of respect, \u200dtolerance, and non-violence.<\/p>\n<p>In\u200b conclusion, the lawsuit filed by\u200d Huda Fakhreddine \u2062against \u200bthe University of Pennsylvania raises \u2064important \u200dquestions about privacy rights and the university\u2019s \u2064responsibility to \u2062address campus anti-Semitism.\u2062 While\u200c privacy is crucial, it should \u2062not hinder transparency and accountability when addressing issues that affect student safety\u2064 and well-being. It is essential for universities to \u2063strike a balance between protecting privacy\u200c and fostering a safe \u200band inclusive environment for all students. Penn must\u2063 take\u200d this opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to addressing anti-Semitism and promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity \u2064on campus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fakhreddine, a member of Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine, has filed a legal complaint to halt a federal probe into the university&#8217;s handling of anti-Semitism. The professor previously expressed support for Hamas&#8217;s attack on Israel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2360,"featured_media":2197861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/DVNAoeOXcAETaB__736x515.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2197860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/DVNAoeOXcAETaB__736x515.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2197860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2360"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2197860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2197860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2197861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2197860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2197860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2197860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}