Insights

INSIGHTS POSTS

Why Sahar Aziz’s Instagram Post About “Female Journalists” Raises Serious Questions

A Controversial Social Media Post From a Rutgers Professor Sahar Aziz, a legal scholar affiliated with Rutgers University and a public commentator on Middle East politics through her Center for Security, Race and Rights, recently shared an Instagram post memorializing a group of women described as “female journalists” allegedly killed by Israel during the ongoing conflict in Lebanon […]

INSIGHTS POSTS

Sahar Aziz Supports Campaign to Reinstate Rutgers Graduation Speaker Rami Elghandour

Sahar Aziz has publicly supported efforts to pressure Rutgers University into reinstating biotech executive Rami Elghandour as a graduation speaker after the university withdrew his invitation over social media posts criticizing Israel. The controversy erupted after Rutgers canceled Elghandour’s scheduled May 15 commencement address for the School of Engineering. According to reporting from Associated Press, university officials said some graduating […]

Sahar Aziz signing a letter for pro-Iran teacher Shirin Saeidi

INSIGHTS POSTS

Sahar Aziz Among Academics Backing Fired Professor Shirin Saeidi After Pro-Iran Controversy

A growing controversy surrounding the firing of Shirin Saeidi from the University of Arkansas has drawn national attention, especially after prominent legal scholar Sahar Aziz signed a petition demanding her reinstatement. The petition, which now includes hundreds of academics and activists, has intensified scrutiny not only on Saeidi’s dismissal but also on the network of public figures rallying behind her. […]

INSIGHTS POSTS

When Black History Month Is Rewritten: The Problem with the “Transnational” Narrative

During Black History Month, the mission should be singular: recognizing the history, struggles, and achievements of Black Americans. Yet, each year, activist scholars and academic centers attempt to pivot that focus toward contemporary political agendas. A recent example comes from the Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), which has promoted lectures linking the Black […]

INSIGHTS POSTS

Academic Authority vs. Accountability: The Case of Sahar Aziz and CSRR

In the halls of Rutgers University, a fierce debate is unfolding over the boundaries of academic freedom. At the center of this storm is Sahar Aziz, a Distinguished Professor of Law and the Director of the Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR). While Aziz and her supporters defend her work as “critical scholarship,” a […]

INSIGHTS POSTS

The “Hindutva” Controversy: Hindu Advocacy Groups vs. CSRR’s “Systemic Hate”

The “Hindutva” Controversy: Hindu Advocacy Groups vs. CSRR’s “Systemic Hate” While much of the national focus on the Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR) has centered on its rhetoric regarding Israel, a second front of intense opposition has emerged from the Hindu American community. Organizations like the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and Coalition of […]

INSIGHTS POSTS

The 2024 Senate Inquiry: Extremist Ties and “Terrorist Sympathizers” at CSRR

In February 2024, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Ranking Member Senator Lindsey Graham and nine other Republican members, launched a formal inquiry into the Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR). The committee’s letter to Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway didn’t just request information; it leveled a series of staggering allegations, characterizing the […]