The USC valedictorian who was banned from giving a speech during a university ceremony has said she stands by her views after coming under fire for anti-Semitic posts.
Asna Tabassum, from Chino Hills, California, had been selected as this year’s valedictorian at the University of Southern California.
Pro-Israel groups criticized his selection after it emerged that he had made posts questioning the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with links promoting anti-Semitism.
The university removed Tabassum, who is Muslim, from its lineup stating that “tradition must give way to security.”
Speaking for the first time since being banned from speaking, Tabassum told ABC7 that he stands by his views.
She told the outlet: “I stand exactly what I stand for, I don’t think it’s ironic for me to belittle something called genocide resistance, and then talk about it and then be revoked because I’m penalized.” something that people have problems with.’
Speaking for the first time since being banned from speaking, Tabassum told ABC7 that he stands by his views.
Pro-Israel groups criticized his selection after it emerged that he had made posts questioning the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with links promoting anti-Semitism.
Tabassum also said he did not believe the security claim made by university officials after he was not offered specific details.
She told the outlet: ‘That was a primary emotion, pride, humility and humbleness. “It very quickly turned into shock and surprise.”
When he pressed school officials further, he said: ‘[It was] almost a one-way conversation, and the next day they came to see me.
“They called me and said, ‘It’s a shame, but you can’t talk.’ It’s been a rollercoaster and I’d say that’s the best way to describe it.
‘When people use this particular topic as a way to discuss issues of free speech, security, the first amendment, racism, hate and ideological debate.
‘That’s exactly what a university is supposed to do, that’s exactly how we learn as university students.
“It’s not about the speech, it’s about the representation, it’s about the principle.”
Tabassum, who is majoring in biomedical engineering with a specialization in genocide resistance, reportedly addressed 65,000 people at the ceremony.
USC officials chose her from nearly 100 student applicants who had a GPA of 3.98 or higher.
In letters sent to administrators, critics accused her of posting a link to a website that “attacks more than 10% of the USC student body and confuses by calling Zionists ‘racist settlers.'”
Tabassum was banned from speaking at the graduation ceremony due to alleged anti-Semitic posts on social media.
Tabassum’s pro-Palestinian stance and links promoting the abolition of Israel led to prose sites, as seen above.
Tabassum has shared pro-Palestinian views and likes expressed through his Instagram account, which he has since made private and deleted his posts.
A link from Asna Tabassum leads to a website containing various anti-Semitic sentiments
Tabassum has shared pro-Palestinian views and likes expressed through his Instagram account, which he has since made private and deleted his posts.
Tabassum’s current Instagram bio links to a landing page that says “learn what’s happening in Palestine and how to help.”
‘EM. Tabassum brazenly and openly endorses the link’s calls for ‘the complete abolition of the state of Israel (sic)’, according to a letter circulated for critics to present to administrators.
“As if the unconditional order to abolish the State of Israel were in no way clear, Ms. Tabassum’s link reinforces racism with another link, urging readers to ‘reject hegemonic efforts to demand that Palestinians accept that Israel has the right to exist as a .
The university avoided any mention of Tabassum’s alleged views and instead described the reasoning as “security reasons.”
“While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to security,” Chancellor Andrew Guzmán wrote in a letter to the university community.
Tabassum, a biomedical engineering specialist with a specialization in genocide resistance, was scheduled to address 65,000 people at the ceremony.
An Instagram account, We Are Tov, spends time checking Tabassum links
‘This decision is not only necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and our students, but is consistent with the fundamental legal obligation – including the expectations of federal regulators – that universities act to protect students and keep students safe. to our university community.
‘Apply the same values and criteria that we have used in the past to guide our actions.
‘It in no way diminishes the notable academic achievements of any student considered or selected for valedictorian.
‘To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of expression. There is no right to free speech to speak at a graduation ceremony.
“The question here is how best to maintain campus security, period.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Los Angeles has now demanded that Tabassum be allowed to speak at the event.
While Tabassum herself suggested that she was being silenced and that her university had “abandoned” her.
She wrote in a statement: ‘Anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a racist hate campaign because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all.
‘This campaign to prevent me from addressing my classmates at graduation has evidently achieved its objective.
‘USC administrators informed me that the university will no longer allow me to speak at graduation due to alleged safety concerns.
“I am shocked by this decision and deeply disappointed that the university is succumbing to a campaign of hate aimed at silencing my voice,” she continued.
‘I’m not surprised by those who try to spread hate. “I am surprised that my own university, my home for four years, has abandoned me.”
USC Chancellor Andrew Guzmán attended and cited Tabassum’s dismissal as due to “security concerns.”
“While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to security,” Chancellor Andrew Guzmán wrote in a letter to the university community.
USC officials chose her from nearly 100 student applicants who had a GPA of 3.98 or higher. In the photo, last year’s ceremony.
Rector Guzmán, in a message to the campus, also said that the commotion over the election of the best student had acquired “an alarming tenor.”
The university told Los Angeles Times how threats had been made via email, letters and phone calls to the campus.
Guzmán wrote: ‘The intensity of feeling, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has increased to the point of creating substantial risks related to the security and interruption at the beginning.
‘We cannot ignore the fact that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence on other campuses.
‘As always, and particularly when tensions are so high around the world, we must prioritize the safety of our community.
‘And as we do every year, we have been monitoring our exit security needs based on all the information we have and the facts on the ground.
“We are resolute in our commitment to maintaining and prioritizing the existing safety and well-being of our USC community over the coming weeks, and allowing commencement attendees to focus on the celebration our graduates deserve.”