Georgetown Law School Postpones Event Featuring Convicted Terrorist
An event featuring Ribhi Karajah, a member of the U.S.-designated terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was postponed by Georgetown University's law school. Karajah was convicted for his role in the 2019 roadside bombing that killed 17-year-old Israeli girl Rina Shnerb.
The event, organized by the student group Georgetown Law Students for Justice in Palestine, was initially scheduled for February 11th. However, the law school instructed the group to postpone the event due to "serious safety and security concerns."
Karajah, a U.S. citizen, was arrested along with two other PFLP members for their involvement in the bombing. He was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison after admitting in a plea agreement that he was aware of the attack and did nothing to stop it.
Jewish students at Georgetown Law expressed concerns about their safety in light of the planned event and the heated rhetoric from classmates and anti-Israel groups.
The Lawfare Project, a legal advocacy group that supports students facing antisemitism on campus, sent a letter to the dean of Georgetown's law school urging the university to formally cancel the event. The letter cited federal law against providing material support for terrorism and argued that allowing Karajah to speak on campus could be construed as such support.
The Lawfare Project also called on Georgetown to reveal whether any law school administrators were aware of Karajah's affiliation with the PFLP before approving the event. As of Thursday, the group had not received a response from the university.
Julia Wax Vanderwiel, founder and president of Georgetown Law Zionists, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his recent visit to Washington D.C. She informed him about the planned event and expressed concerns about the safety of Jewish students on campus.
Netanyahu reportedly expressed strong disapproval of the event and offered his support to the students.
Vanderwiel emphasized that Karajah's presence on campus poses a threat to the security of all Jewish students.
6 Comments
Africa
Shame on Georgetown Law for inviting a member of a designated terrorist organization to speak on campus. This is an affront to the values of justice and peace.
Habibi
This event is a chance to stand up for academic freedom and the right to free speech. I encourage everyone to support Georgetown Law Students for Justice in Palestine.
ZmeeLove
I support the right of all students to feel safe on campus. However, I believe that cancelling this event would set a dangerous precedent.
Muchacho
I urge Georgetown to reconsider its decision and to show true leadership by cancelling this event.
Coccinella
I support Georgetown Law Students for Justice in Palestine's right to host this event. Freedom of speech is essential, even for those with whom we disagree.
Comandante
This is a betrayal of the values of Georgetown University. This event has no place on a campus dedicated to academic excellence and the pursuit of justice.