In July, American Muslims for Palestine released a report that surveys efforts to suppress Palestinian solidarity movements. On the show today, host Allen Ruff is joined by the author of the report, Halah Ahmad. She says that the repression of pro-Palestine student activists began before Trump took office but has only escalated since. The Trump administration is going after any immigrant students, regardless of their affiliation with these movements. The report shows that more than 1800 students across the country have had their visas or status revoked.
Attacks on immigrant students are followed up by attacks on institutions themselves. Ahmad describes how these cuts to research programs at colleges and universities are framed as fighting antisemitism. She says this framework has created a chilling effect on any critiques of the Israeli government. Ahmad  tracked how international students are now self-censoring and faculty are not putting on programs that they fear their universities would oppose. 
In addition to directly criminalizing student protest and undermining universities, Christian Zionist leaders in Trump’s circle are shepherding the country toward what they view as a holy war. This ideology was also at work during the Regan administration, but has found new purchase in US foreign policy following the US’s bombing of Iran earlier this summer.

Halah Ahmad is a Harvard and Cambridge trained independent researcher whose work spans domestic and international policy. She has conducted strategic policy research for government agencies and NGOs in Greece, Albania, Germany, Palestine, and the US. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Vox, The LA Times, The Hill, USA Today and other outlets.
Featured image of the Gaza solidarity encampment at UW-Madison in May 2024 (WORT).
Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate hereThe post Christian Right Leads Attacks on Student Activists appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Ver todos los episodios