Program Overview and Guest Speakers

San Francisco State University (SFSU) has been the center of controversy due to its Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies (AMED) program. Recently, it was revealed that the program has hosted Palestinian figures associated with terrorist organizations.

Reports indicate that the AMED program organized a student trip to Jordan, where attendees met with a convicted financier of Hamas and notable historical figures, including the first woman to hijack a plane, in the context of Palestinian liberation.

Incidents Leading to Legal Actions

The university’s actions have resulted in several lawsuits filed by Jewish students. In 2018, SFSU was labeled “the most antisemitic college campus in the country” according to a study by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI). This has drawn attention amid federal scrutiny, as the Trump administration warned universities about the repercussions of failing to protect Jewish students from alleged discrimination.

Associated Figures and Events

Professor Rabab Abdulhadi, director of the AMED program since 2007, has been actively involved in promoting discussions with individuals connected to groups like Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). In June 2024, she participated in a conference supporting the PFLP, which was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department.

Other significant speakers at related events have included Wisam Rafeedie, a PFLP member, alongside Sana Daqa’a, whose husband was convicted for his involvement in a terrorist operation that killed an Israeli soldier.

Responses to Controversial Activities

Following various incidents, including a scheduled webinar featuring hijacker Leila Khaled, several platforms, including Zoom and Facebook, intervened to cancel events due to public protest and compliance with antiterrorism legislation.

In a post made by AMED three days after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, the program honored individuals termed as “resistance fighters,” further complicating the narrative surrounding the program’s objectives.

Historical Context and Previous Engagements

AMED has previously organized delegations that included meetings with individuals such as Sheikh Raed Salah, who has a history of fundraising for Hamas. During a 2014 trip to Palestine, students also engaged with Leila Khaled.

Efforts to curtail discussions featuring figures connected to terrorism have included legal action from Jewish student organizations. In 2017, a lawsuit was filed due to perceived antisemitism on campus, particularly after the disruption of an event featuring the mayor of Jerusalem.