The true test of a democracy is the extent to which civil rights in law are enforced in practice for the most vulnerable groups in society. As members of Congress demanded mass arrest and expulsion of college students exercising their free speech right to dissent against U.S. foreign policy in Gaza and the West Bank, the racial fault lines in American democracy were yet again laid bare.
Similarly, university presidents are buckling to external political pressure to violate academic freedom of Muslim and Arab faculty targeted by external anti-Muslim and pro-Israeli groups and politicians. In this episode, Distinguished Law Professor Sahar Aziz examines how Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism intersect to produce systematic assaults on the civil rights of racialized communities.
These concerted efforts to quash the nonviolent Palestine Solidarity Movement set dangerous rights-infringing precedents that are now being weaponized against immigrant rights advocates and supporters of diversity, equity and inclusion. The same conservative groups and politicians who complain about the erosion of free speech in America are now spearheading the policing of viewpoints and speech expressed by progressive students and faculty on college campuses.
Listen to Professor Aziz as she explains the origins and harmful consequences of the Palestine Taboo on all American’s free speech and political freedoms, which is the basis of her forthcoming book on the topic.
#Israel #Palestine #Gaza #Genocide #PalestineTaboo #FreeSpeech #AcademicFreedom
Suggested Readings
Sahar Aziz, The Racial Muslim: When Racism Quashes Religious Freedom (2022)
Mitchell Plitnick and Sahar Aziz, Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine Israel Discourse (2023)
Sahar Aziz, Racing Religion in the Palestine Israel Discourse, AJIL Unbound , Volume 118 , 2024 , pp. 118 – 123.

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In Part II of this two-part series, guest host Esaa Mohammad Sabti Samarah, PhD, LMSW reunites with Dr. Siham Elkassem, Dr. Bryn King, Dr. Nuha Dwaikat-Shaer, and doctoral candidate Amilah Baksh to move beyond naming harm and toward a deeper examination of responsibility. This episode turns a critical lens on how the social work profession responds, or fails to respond, to anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim racisms, with particular attention to the ways calls for “neutrality” shape research, teaching, and professional practice.

The conversation interrogates neutrality as it appears in social work academia, especially in relation to empiricism and claims of objectivity. The panel introduces and critically examines the concept of “weepy universalism,” a term they coin for social workers in their forthcoming work to describe how generalized expressions of sympathy can obscure power, flatten difference, and ultimately reproduce harm rather than challenge it.

The episode also brings these debates down from theory to practice, exploring what they mean for social workers on the ground, particularly those working with youth and communities most directly impacted by these forms of racism. The series closes with a collective call to action, challenging the profession to move beyond symbolic gestures and toward principled, sustained solidarity with Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, as part of broader struggles for justice and liberation.

This episode invites listeners to reckon with complicity, resist comfort, and reimagine what ethical practice demands in moments of profound injustice.

#BeyondNeutrality #EthicalSocialWork #SolidarityNotSilence #WeepyUniversalism #YouthJustice #DecolonizeSocialWork #JusticeInAction

Links to Published Works

Dwaikat-Shaer, N., Baksh, A., Elkassem, S., & King, B. (2025). Phenomenologies of Silence: On the Palestine Exception and the Complicity of Social Work Academe. Abolitionist Perspectives in Social Work, 3(2).

Siham Elkassem - Google Scholar

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In this first episode of a two-part series, guest host Esaa Mohammad Sabti Samarah, PhD, LMSW leads a powerful conversation examining how anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim racisms function as distinct yet interconnected systems of harm. Together with scholars and practitioners Dr. Siham Elkassem, Dr. Bryn King, Dr. Nuha Dwaikat-Shaer, and Doctoral Candidate Amilah Baksh, the discussion examines how these forms of racism operate across structural, institutional, and interpersonal levels, and how they are sustained through histories of colonialism, racialization, and political violence.

The episode critically interrogates the social work profession’s response to these realities, confronting the gap between professed values and practiced silence. The panel names this silence as more than inaction: it is complicity reinforced by selective empathy, professional caution, and institutional pressures that limit meaningful engagement with Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim suffering.

Listeners are invited to reflect on how racism is produced and maintained within professional spaces, and how social work education and practice can either reproduce harm or become a site of resistance and transformation. Part I lays the foundation by naming the problem clearly and setting the stage for a deeper examination in Part II, Beyond Neutrality: Confronting Silence, Resistance, and a Call to Action. The second episode deepens the conversation by examining neutrality, dissent, and professional responsibility, with particular attention to the impact on youth and affected communities.

This episode is essential listening for anyone committed to racial justice, human rights, and accountability within social work and allied professions.

#AntiRacism #PalestinianRights #AntiMuslimRacism #AntiPalistinianRacism #AntiArabRacism #ArabAndMuslimVoices #SocialWorkJustice #ColonialismAndResistance

Links to Published Works

Elkassem, S. (2024). Beyond Hate: Confronting Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Racism in Social Work. Intersectionalities, 12(1), 1-29.

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There has been an alarming surge of anti-Muslim sentiment across the European continent. As Islamophobia continues to gain momentum throughout Europe—home to tens of millions of Muslim citizens—Professor Hafez offers listeners a comprehensive analysis of this troubling phenomenon. His work examines the multifaceted causes of this rise in Muslim prejudice, from historical legacies and media representations to contemporary political movements.

Join us as Professor Hafez delves deeper into the divisive effects of Islamophobia on both Muslim and non-Muslim communities across Europe. He explores how this prejudice manifests in various spheres—from institutional discrimination and policy decisions to everyday interactions and personal experiences. The discussion highlights the broader implications for European society, questioning how these attitudes challenge fundamental values of pluralism, human rights, and social cohesion. Join host Sahar Aziz and Professor Hafez as they offer listeners insight into one of the most pressing social issues facing contemporary Europe, examining both its immediate impacts and long-term consequences for a continent grappling with questions of identity, belonging, and religious freedom in an increasingly diverse society.

#Israel #Palestine #Gaza #Genocide #ICC #HumanRights

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In this episode, we welcome Professor Jonathan Hafetz for an insightful discussion on the complex legal challenges involved in prosecuting individuals accused of mass crimes. Our conversation traces the development of international justice mechanisms from the foundational Nuremberg trials through to contemporary approaches in the age of global terrorism.

Professor Hafetz examines how nations have attempted to hold perpetrators accountable while maintaining commitment to fair trial principles - a tension that continues to define international criminal law. The discussion explores the significant impact of the U.S. War on Terrorism on legal frameworks and its disproportionate effects on Arab and Muslim communities.

Throughout the episode, we consider how these legal precedents influence current justice systems and what lessons can be drawn from past successes and failures. This thoughtful analysis offers listeners a clearer understanding of the delicate balance between pursuing accountability for grave crimes and preserving fundamental rights protections, even for those accused of the most serious offenses.

This episode provides valuable context for anyone interested in international law, human rights, and the ongoing evolution of justice mechanisms in response to atrocities and terrorism.

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There is a critical need for a comprehensive examination of the historical forces that have shaped the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from its colonial origins to the present day. Professor Joseph Massad has meticulously analyzed Western imperial involvement in Palestine, tracing the pivotal events that preceded and followed Israel's establishment. European colonial ambitions and policies have created the foundation for ongoing tensions in the region, demonstrating historical patterns of Western imperial expansion. Massad's perspective reveals the often-overlooked continuities between historical colonial projects and contemporary geopolitical realities, offering listeners a framework that challenges conventional narratives about the Middle East. A deep appreciation of the colonial roots of the powers influencing the region’s political makeup is needed to better understand the complex intersection of power, identity, and territorial claims that continue to define the Palestinian experience.

Professor Joseph Massad offers listeners rare insights drawn from decades of research on Middle Eastern history and politics. His analysis moves beyond simplified accounts to reveal the sophisticated interplay between Western imperial interests, Zionist aspirations, and Palestinian resistance throughout the past century. This approach confronts uncomfortable historical truths while providing a nuanced understanding of how external interventions have fundamentally shaped the region's trajectory.

Join Sahar Aziz and Professor Joseph Massad for a conversation that adds necessary historical context to understand one of the world's most persistent conflict and the underlying tie to Western colonial desires.

#Israel #Palestine #Gaza #Genocide #ICC #HumanRights

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"Psychoanalysis Under Occupation: Practicing Resistance in Palestine" examines the profound concept of sumud—psychological resilience and defiance—within the context of Palestinian life under occupation and settler colonialism. This episode explores psychoanalytic frameworks that illuminate the complex psychological expressions of both individual and collective endurance in circumstances of ongoing trauma and oppression. Clinical case studies reveal the sophisticated ways Palestinian mental health practitioners and communities navigate lives marked by systematic violence while actively resisting the narrative of victimhood. Moving beyond conventional human rights discourse, we will uncover how psychological resistance manifests as a form of political and existential assertion, offering new perspectives on trauma, healing, and identity in contexts of prolonged conflict.

Dr. Lara Sheehi brings her groundbreaking research to this episode, offering listeners rare insights into how psychoanalytic practice functions as both healing modality and resistance strategy in occupied Palestine. In her dialogue with Professor Sahar Aziz, Dr. Sheehi presents powerful clinical examples that demonstrate how Palestinian clinicians and their clients maintain dignity and agency despite overwhelming structural violence. Her analysis challenges traditional Western psychological frameworks that often fail to account for political realities and collective trauma responses.

Join Sahar Aziz and Dr. Sheehi for this essential conversation about how mental health practices can honor Palestinian lived experiences while contributing to broader movements for justice and liberation in contexts of ongoing oppression.

#Israel #Palestine #Gaza #Genocide #ICC #HumanRights

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Islamophobia functions as a transnational political strategy weaponized by both democratic and authoritarian regimes worldwide. The American War on Terror has served as a crucial catalyst, amplifying and connecting anti-Muslim campaigns across continents—from Europe and Asia to the Middle East and beyond. There are striking parallels between seemingly disparate anti-Muslim policies in different countries, exposing how these measures share common ideological foundations despite emerging from vastly different political systems. This comprehensive global perspective shifts understanding of Islamophobia from isolated incidents to a coordinated, worldwide phenomenon with profound implications for international relations, human rights, and Muslim communities.

This episode explores the systematic targeting of Muslim populations across diverse geopolitical contexts, with an analysis of how Islamophobia manifests differently across cultural and political landscapes. In his dialogue with Professor Sahar Aziz, Khaled Beydoun unpacks the complex historical, legal, and social dimensions that have enabled anti-Muslim sentiment to become institutionalized in diverse societies. His examination goes beyond theoretical frameworks to reveal the lived experiences of Muslims facing discrimination, surveillance, and violence worldwide. His work challenges conventional understandings of religious freedom and state power while offering insights into resistance strategies emerging within affected communities.

Join Sahar Aziz and Khaled Beydoun for a conversation about one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time, as they explore both the troubling scope of global Islamophobia and potential paths toward countering its influence.

#Israel #Palestine #Gaza #Genocide #ICC #HumanRights

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