On November 19, 2024, the Emory University School of Medicine suspended Umaymah Mohammad, a dual MD/PhD student, for one year because of an interview that she gave on Democracy Now! in April 2024.
On April 26, 2024, Democracy Now! interviewed Mohammad about the student encampment established at Emory University to protest Israeli ongoing military actions in Gaza. During the interview, Mohammad referred to a professor of medicine at Emory, who had recently volunteered with Israeli forces. She accused the professor of “aiding and abetting a genocide,” and emphasized her frustration that the professor was “teaching medical students and residents how to care for patients.”
On June 17, 2024, Emory University’s Dean of Medical Education Affairs emailed Mohammad, accusing her of violating Emory’s code of student conduct by failing “to uphold the principles of professionalism and mutual respect,” by mentioning the professor in her interview.
On July 12, the Dean wrote to Mohammad that an investigation had taken place and found her guilty of failing to uphold the principles of professionalism and mutual respect. Mohammad was given the option of accepting the charges against her or of requesting a hearing with an ad hoc conduct committee.
On July 15, Mohammad wrote to Emory’s Student Senate’s Committee on Open Expression (COFE) to request support. COFE requested that the Dean’s office consult with it prior to taking disciplinary action against Mohammad and that its opinion be incorporated into the findings of the investigation. The Dean’s office denied COFE’s request stating that “the School of Medicine Conduct Code does not include a role for the CFOE in a student disciplinary matter.”
Nevertheless, COFE chose to conduct its own investigation into the charges against Mohammad. In September 2024, it issued a report detailing its conclusions that Mohammad’s interview on Democracy Now! was protected under Emory University’s Respect for Open Expression Policy, which states that Emory “is committed to an environment where the open expression of ideas and open, vigorous debate and speech are valued, promoted, and encouraged,” and that the University “respects the Constitutional rights of free speech and assembly.”
COFE acknowledged that the case was complicated, writing, “The University and its SOM certainly has an interest in promoting professional, respectful climate on its campus, and can enact policies to this extent. However, this interest must be balanced against the ability of community members to express their opinions, even if unpopular ones… In this case, the balancing certainly falls on the side of Ms. Mohammad since (1) her speech was outside of Emory, (2) it was on an issue of public importance, (3) it was not manifestly a falsehood (there is an honest debate in the public sphere whether action of Israel in Gaza amount to genocide), (4) it was an opinion, and (5) the University has not shown disruption or other harm due to her speech. Further, (6) there might be extra protection to speech in a context of a university based on the concept of academic freedom.” COFE further noted that part of the case against Mohammad involved the fact that she had described the actions of a specific memory of the university faculty. However, COFE pointed out that “the faculty in question was not named in Ms. Mohammad’s speech, and his identity was revealed by his own actions.”
On November 19, Mohammad’s hearing took place, and she was issued a one year suspension.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the suspension of a student in retaliation for her exercise of her right to freedom of expression. While university authorities have an obligation to take all reasonable measures to maintain a professional and respectful environment on campus, they must do so consistent with their responsibility to ensure academic freedom and free expression on campus. Restrictions on student expression undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/emory-student-fights-class-reinstatement-after-suspension-israel-gaza-protests/BLCHKVHEBFCTNP52N7DGTYJY2M/
https://atlpresscollective.com/2025/02/12/emory-university-suspends-palestinian-medical-student-umaymah-mohammad-for-speaking-out-in-support-of-palestine-during-media-interview/
https://mesana.org/advocacy/committee-on-academic-freedom/2025/02/10/letter-to-emory-university-regarding-the-suspension-of-umaymah-mohammad-for-exercising-her-right-to-free-speech
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ga-emory-faculty-and-students-call-on-emory-school-of-medicine-to-reinstate-wrongfully-suspended-palestinian-american-student/
https://mondoweiss.net/2025/01/i-was-suspended-from-emory-over-my-palestine-activism-i-will-not-let-it-stop-me/
https://senate.emory.edu/_includes/documents/sections/committees/cfoe/cfoe-24-09-23-mohammad-conduct-code-deidentified.pdf