US university pulls student’s speech after Zionist protest

LOS ANGELES: A top US university has canceled its plans for a graduation speech by a Muslim student over what it says are safety concerns, after pro-Zionist groups criticized her selection. The decision by the University of Southern California is the latest controversy to roil American higher education since the Zionist war in Gaza.

Asna Tabassum, who has been attacked online for “antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric,” had been selected as class valedictorian. USC’s valedictorian is chosen by college officials from among scores of applicants with high academic grades. They represent the graduating class and deliver a speech at graduation in front of up to 65,000 people.

But on Monday the university’s provost, Andrew Guzman, announced the May 10 ceremony would go ahead without the speech. “Unfortunately, over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor,” Guzman said in a statement.

“The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security.”

Guzman’s statement gave no specifics, but the Los Angeles Times quoted Erroll Southers, the university’s associate senior vice president for safety and risk assurance, as saying the institution had received threats by email, phone and letter. Individuals “say they will come to the campus,” he said.

Tabassum criticized the decision, which she said was the result of the university “succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice.” “Although this should have been a time of celebration for my family, friends, professors and classmates, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all,” she said in a statement. The Zionist offensive in Gaza has killed at least 33,843 people in the besieged territory, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.