Statement on Student Protests, Arrests and University Responses to Activism

April 24, 2024

“You who have faith! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk.”  (Quran 4:135)

As chaplains dedicated to nurturing the emotional and spiritual well-being of students on college campuses, we are deeply moved by the public demonstrations students have been organizing to express solidarity with the people of Palestine and hold institutions responsible for their complicity in the genocide taking place before the world’s eyes. We are also deeply disturbed by what is unfolding in response to these demonstrations and feel compelled to speak up. In our role as educators and spiritual mentors, we uphold the belief that justice is integral to our faith, activism is core to our traditions, and that Palestine is of paramount importance to us as a historic sacred site and a present-day humanitarian crisis.

We are appalled by the actions taken by some universities to suppress the voices of students and sow an environment of division and fear through use of police force, arrests and suspensions of students involved in protests. We firmly assert that the arrest of students engaging in peaceful protest is not aligned with the values of trust, safety, and inclusivity that should characterize institutions of learning.

As advocates for the well-being of all students, we denounce any form of discrimination or hate directed towards Muslims, Jews, Arabs, or Palestinians. We believe all students on our campuses should be protected and deserve to live and study safely. We condemn Islamophobia. We condemn antisemitism. We also call on all institutions to recognize the needs of students who are disproportionately affected and defend them and their right to speak and grieve. Our commitment to condemning all forms of hatred stems from our belief that all of creation is sacred. We believe the use of any hate speech detracts from the larger issues of justice. We also condemn the false accusations of hate speech that have been leveled at students in an effort to silence their legitimate criticisms of the actions of Israeli authorities most notably the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians in violation of international humanitarian law and the imposed collective punishment of the population of Gaza. 

In our view, activism is not a disruption but an essential part of the educational experience, allowing students to engage meaningfully with social issues and contribute to positive change in the world. We urge university leaders to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by students and to nurture a culture that fosters ethical, compassionate global citizens. Our students’ deep care for the suffering of others should be celebrated, not punished.

We take inspiration from the words of Malcolm X, who said “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I am for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” The Quran commands us as people of faith to stand firmly and persistently for justice. We stand with our students and will continue to advocate for their rights and support them in their struggle to gain the nation’s and world’s attention at this critical moment in history. 

Sincerely, 

The Association of Muslim Chaplains