[link removed]
#XQRTCKDK
#XQRTCKDK

Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org ([link removed]) | May 30, 2025 — The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is calling on Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to immediately release the degrees of Sereen Haddad and Selma Ait-Bella, two students being unjustly punished for peacefully gathering in community on campus to commemorate the anniversary of last year’s student encampment for Palestine.
Send a Message to VCU Now ([link removed])

On April 25, 2025, students, including Sereen and Selma, gathered on the same lawn where VCU deployed a militarized police response in 2024. This time, the gathering was peaceful and informal: students studied, reflected, and supported one another in community. Despite the lack of disruption or policy violation, VCU administrators escalated the situation by involving police, singling out students based on keffiyehs and banners, and mischaracterizing the presence of students as a “protest.”

Sereen and Selma fully complied with all university directives. There is clear video evidence documenting that they followed instructions, ended the gathering when asked, and did not violate any policies. Yet, instead of acknowledging the facts, VCU has chosen to punish them. The university is now withholding their degrees and accusing them of conduct violations they did not commit.

This is not due process; it is targeted retaliation. It is a clear attempt to criminalize pro-Palestinian expression and intimidate Muslim and allied students into silence. Worse, it reflects a dangerous national trend: the use of institutional power to punish political speech on college campuses.

As a public university, VCU has a legal and moral obligation to uphold the First Amendment rights of its students. The university’s actions not only violate those rights, they send a chilling message that Palestinian grief and solidarity will be met with punishment.

MPAC demands that VCU:
* Immediately release the degrees of Sereen Haddad and Selma Ait-Bella
* Publicly affirm that peaceful political expression will not be criminalized
* Hold accountable the administrators and officers responsible for misleading, threatening, or retaliating against students

To The Public:

We have launched a national public call to action demanding VCU immediately release the degrees of Sereen Haddad and Selma Ait-Bella. We are calling on you to take action now.
Take Action Now ([link removed])

Email VCU leadership. Flood their inboxes. Make it clear that the public will not stand by while universities weaponize conduct processes to silence Muslim and Palestinian students. These retaliatory tactics have no place in a democracy, especially not at a public institution funded by taxpayer dollars.

Demand accountability. Demand justice. Demand the release of Sereen and Selma’s degrees.

Follow us.
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
Support Our Work ([link removed])

Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council ([link removed]) improves public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Our policy analysts provide insight from D.C. to the palm of your hand on the most pressing issues impacting American Muslims. Email is an important way for us to communicate with supporters like you. Should you want to stop hearing from us or change your preferences, click here to Update your contact info ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed]) .

View this email online. ([link removed])