The Muslim valedictorian of the University of Southern California says that her college has "abandoned" her, after the administration canceled her commencement speech, citing "risks relating to security" after she publicly criticized Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
"I am not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred," valedictorian Asna Tabassum said in a statement released by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), "I am surprised that my own university-my home for four years-has abandoned me."
USC Provost Andrew Guzman told Tabassum that could not give the traditional address due to "unprecedented" vitriol, but added that the decision was "not a judgment" on her character, accomplishments and ambitions.
Tabassum was selected from among more than 200 soon-to-be-graduates whose GPAs were greater than 3.8. She majored in biomedical engineering and earned an interdisciplinary minor in resistance to genocide.
The daughter of South Asian immigrants, she volunteers for a nonprofit that provides medical care to homeless people and co-founded an organization that distributes medical supplies around the world, the New York Times reported.
Among those who criticized Tabassum, are members of the USC student group Trojans for Israel. The group alleged, in an Instagram post, that Tabassum "propagates antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric" citing a link on her social media page that leads to a website describing Zionism as a "racist settler-colonial ideology."
Tabassum alleges that after USC announced her selection as valedictorian she was subjected "to a campaign of racist hatred" due to her "uncompromising belief in human rights for all."
USC reportedly told Tabassum that due to the level of threats surrounding her speech, the university was unable to ensure security during commencement.
"While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety," the University said in an official statement. "The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period."
CAIR called on the university to reverse what it described as a "cowardly decision" to bar Tabassum from speaking at commencement.
"The university can, should and must ensure a safe environment for graduation rather than taking the unprecedented step of canceling a valedictorian's speech," the organization said in a statement.
"The dishonest and defamatory attacks on Asna are nothing more than thinly-veiled manifestations of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, which have been weaponized against college students across the country who speak up for human rights - and for Palestinian humanity."
