Latest news with #studentprotest
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbia University adopts new definition of antisemitism, shuns pro-Palestinian group
NEW YORK — Months into its fight to restore federal funding revoked by the Trump administration over antisemitism claims, Columbia University has adopted a new set of policies that include refusing to meet with a coalition of student protesters who pitched tents in support of Gaza. The embattled school also agreed to adopt a definition of antisemitism that recognizes some criticism of Israel as discriminatory toward Jewish students. The late Tuesday announcement comes days after Columbia was reportedly nearing an agreement with the federal government — though acting President Claire Shipman suggested any deal they may reach is 'only a starting point for change,' rather than bending to external demands. 'The fact that we've faced pressure from the government does not make the problems on our campuses any less real,' Shipman wrote to students and faculty. Under the newly outlined plans, the university leader said Columbia has not recognized and will not negotiate with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, or CUAD, its representatives or allied student groups. It follows similar action taken by Barnard College, its sister school, in recent weeks. In spring 2024, CUAD took credit for the encampment that commandeered the main campus lawns, as its representatives met with university administrators over their demands to take down the tents. When talks failed, the college administration called the NYPD to clear the demonstration — twice. 'Organizations that promote violence or encourage disruptions of our academic mission are not welcome on our campuses and the University will not engage with them,' Shipman wrote. The announcement also said that Columbia's revised understanding of antisemitism will be based on what's known as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA, Definition of Antisemitism. Colleges have increasingly used the framework to respond to campus protests — a development welcomed by many supporters of Israel but criticized by protesters who say it infringes on free speech. The definition states that some critiques of Israel as a Jewish state may cross a line into antisemitism, such as denying the Jewish people's right to self-determination or claiming that the existence of Israel is a racist endeavor. Comparing contemporary Israeli policy and that of Nazis would also be considered antisemitic under its terms. Adopting the IHRA antisemitism definition had been one of the Trump administration's prerequisites for resuming negotiations over the flow of federal funding. But Columbia had previously stopped short of fully embracing the approach in its disciplinary cases. 'The formal incorporation of this definition will strengthen our response to and our community's understanding of modern antisemitism,' Shipman said. CUAD acknowledged Shipman's email and her disavowal of the group on X, but reserved its most searing criticism for the new antisemitism definition. 'Columbia and Harvard adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism is a bold step toward protecting students — from having to hear critiques of genocide, apparently,' the group said. 'Soon, the IHRA definition of antisemitism will be standard across higher ed. Not to fight hate, but to criminalize dissent.' In addition, Shipman announced the creation of two new positions, Title VI and Title VII coordinators, to review and respond to reports of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Those individuals will contribute to an annual report to the president and Board of Trustees and reviewable by the public. Columbia will also launch training by the Anti-Defamation League and several other national Jewish organizations and build out programs focused on constructive dialogue. Brian Cohen, executive director of the campus Hillel, welcomed the steps as recognizing a campus antisemitism problem and its impact on Jewish students' sense of safety and belonging. 'I hope this announcement marks the beginning of meaningful and sustained change,' Cohen said. _____
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Indian student's self-immolation after sexual harassment complaint sparks national outrage
A 20-year-old student in India set herself on fire at her college campus after alleging sexual harassment by a professor, an incident that has prompted national outrage and calls for an inquiry from political leaders. The woman, a second-year undergraduate studying education at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, self-immolated on Saturday, moments after leaving the office of the college principal. She suffered over 90 per cent burns and was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Science in Bhubaneswar, where she died late on Monday night. Her father, speaking to local media, accused the college of conspiring against his daughter. 'My daughter was killed,' he said in Hindi, breaking down on television. 'She always raised her voice in college, so they targeted her. Everyone forced her to die. Is this not murder?' He claimed that his daughter had complained of sexual harassment by Sameer Ranjan Sahoo, the head of the education department, accusing him of demanding sexual favours and threatening to ruin her career. 'She didn't open up completely but said the accused was pressuring her,' he said, reported India Today. Mr Sahoo has been suspended and arrested, with a local court placing him under 14 days' judicial custody. The student had formally approached the college's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), naming Mr Sahoo and claiming that the principal, Dillip Ghosh, and other college authorities failed to act on her initial complaints. The ICC is said to have promised action, but the family say none was taken. She had also approached the police and even met her local MP, but the family say the alleged harassment continued. Mr Ghosh was suspended as principal by the college on Sunday, and arrested on Monday when the student was still in critical condition in hospital. Local opposition leader Bhakta Charan Das, the Odisha Congress Party chief, announced a state-wide shut-down on 17 July to protest the 'collapse of the justice redressal system'. Thousands attended the student's cremation in her home village on Tuesday, including the local state legislator from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Pratap Sarangi, and other officials. Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha's chief minister, expressed his condolences and vowed 'strict action' while offering £18,500 in compensation for the family. The case has triggered a political storm in Odisha and beyond. Former chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party leader Naveen Patnaik blamed the BJP-led state government, calling the girl's death 'institutional betrayal' and a result of 'planned injustice'. 'She went from pillar to post for justice but was failed by the very system meant to protect her,' Mr Patnaik wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 'She did not die due to injuries alone, but because the state left her alone in her struggle.' National opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the student's death 'an organised murder by the system' and said those meant to protect her 'kept breaking her'. In a sharply worded post on X calling out prime minister Narendra Modi, he added: 'Whether in Odisha or Manipur, the daughters of the nation are burning, breaking, and dying. And you [prime minister Narendra Modi] remain silent.' Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Mr Gandhi was politicising the incident, stating that the welfare of women was a top priority for the BJP-led central government. In response to the public outcry, the University Grants Commission (UGC), a statutory body under the education ministry, has set up a fact-finding team led by Raj Kumar Mittal. The panel will examine the circumstances of the student's death, review the college's compliance with regulatory norms, and assess the effectiveness of anti-harassment mechanisms. Other members of the committee include UGC joint secretary Ashima Mangla, Gujarat University vice-chancellor Neerja Gupta, and former UGC member Sushma Yadav. The panel has been asked to submit its report by 22 July. The UGC said the committee would visit the college, engage with students, staff and administrators, and assess the safety measures and institutional culture related to student welfare. Meanwhile, the victim's family continues to demand answers. 'Why was she called alone to the principal's office? What happened inside? Why were we not informed?' her father asked while speaking to ANI. 'I request the government to acknowledge that my daughter didn't die, she was killed, and everyone should be charged with murder," he said.
Al Jazeera
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Rap, memes, graffiti: Bangladesh's new political tools, a year after Hasina
Dhaka, Bangladesh — On July 16, 2024, as security forces launched a brutal crackdown on student protesters campaigning against then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's increasingly authoritarian government, Bangladeshi rapper Muhammad Shezan released a song. Titled Kotha Ko (speak up in Bangla), the song asked: 'The country says it's free, then where's your roar?' It was the day that Abu Sayed, a protester, was killed, becoming the face of the campaign to depose Hasina after 15 years in power. Sayed's death fuelled the public anger that led to intensified protests. And Shezan's Kotha Ko, along with a song by another rapper, Hannan Hossain Shimul, became anthems for that movement, culminating in Hasina fleeing Bangladesh for India in August. Fast forward a year, and Shezan recently released another hit rap track. In Huddai Hutashe, he raps about how 'thieves' are being garlanded with flowers – a reference, he said, to unqualified individuals seizing important positions in post-Hasina Bangladesh. As the country marks the anniversary of the uprising against Hasina, protest tools that played a key role in galvanising support against the former leader have become part of mainstream Bangladeshi politics. Rap, social media memes and graffiti are now also a part of the arsenal of young Bangladeshis looking to hold their new rulers accountable, just as they once helped uproot Hasina. 'Do less drama, dear' As mob violence surged in Bangladesh last autumn in the aftermath of Hasina's ouster, a Facebook meme went viral. It showed the familiar red and green seal of the Bangladesh government. But instead of the golden map of the nation inside the red circle, it depicted stick-wielding men beating a fallen victim. The text around the emblem had been tweaked – in Bangla, it no longer read 'People's Republic of Bangladesh Government,' but 'Mob's Republic of Bangladesh Government'. The satire was biting and pointed, revealing an uncomfortable side of post-Hasina Bangladesh. 'It was out of this frustration that I created the illustration, as a critique on the 'rule of mobs' and the government's apparent inaction,' said Imran Hossain, a journalist and activist who created the meme. 'Many people shared it on social media, and some even used it as their profile picture as a quiet form of protest.' After the student-led revolution, the newly appointed interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus embarked on a sweeping reform agenda – covering the constitution, elections, judiciary and police. But mob violence emerged as a challenge that the government struggled to contain. This period saw mobs attacking Sufi shrines and Hindu minorities, storming women's football pitches, and even killing alleged drug dealers – many of these incidents filmed, shared and fiercely debated online. 'After the July uprising, some groups in Bangladesh – many of whom had been oppressed under the previous regime – suddenly found themselves with a lot of power. But instead of using that newfound power responsibly, some began taking the law into their own hands,' Hossain said. As with rap songs, such memes had also played a vital role in capturing the public mood during the anti-Hasina protests. After security officials killed hundreds of protesters on July 18 and 19, Sheikh Hasina was seen crying over damage to a metro station allegedly caused by demonstrators. That moment fuelled a wave of memes. One viral meme said 'Natok Kom Koro Prio' (Do less drama, dear), and was viral throughout the latter half of July. It mocked Hasina's sentimental display – whether over the damaged metro station or her claim to 'understand the pain of losing loved ones' after law enforcement agencies had killed hundreds. Until then, ridiculing Sheikh Hasina had been a 'difficult' act, said Punny Kabir, a prominent social media activist known for her witty political memes over the years, and a PhD student at the University of Cologne. While newspaper cartoonists previously used to lampoon political leaders, that stopped during Hasina's rule since 2009, which was marked by arrests of critics and forced disappearances, she said. 'To face off an authoritarian regime, it's [ridiculing] an important and powerful tool to overcome fear and surveillance,' Kabir said. 'We made it possible, and it broke the fear.' 'If you resist, you are Bangladesh' As fear of Sheikh Hasina faded from social media, more people found their voice – a reflection that soon spread onto the streets. Thousands of walls were covered with paintings, graffiti, and slogans of courage such as 'Killer Hasina', 'Stop Genocide' and 'Time's Up Hasina'. 'These artworks played a big role in the protests,' said political analyst and researcher Altaf Parvez. 'Slogans like 'If you are scared, you're finished; but if you resist, you are Bangladesh' – one slogan can make all the difference, and that's exactly what happened. 'People were searching for something courageous. When someone created something that defied fear – creative slogans, graffiti, cartoons – these became sources of inspiration, spreading like wildfire. People found their voice through them,' he added. That voice did not go silent with Hasina's departure. Today, memes targeting various political parties, not just the government, are widespread. One of Imran's works uses a Simpsons cartoon to illustrate how sycophants used to eulogise Hasina's family for its role in Bangladesh's 1971 liberation war when she was in power. Now, the cartoon points out, loyalists of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)'s leader Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman are trying to flatter their family for their contribution to the country's independence movement. Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, led the freedom struggle, while Zia's husband Ziaur Rahman was a senior army officer who announced the country's independence on March 27, 1971. Another meme from a popular Gen-Z Facebook page called WittiGenZ recently highlighted allegations of sexual misconduct by a leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP) – a party formed by Bangladesh's students. What comes next for political art in Bangladesh? Political analysts in Bangladesh believe the tools that contributed to toppling Sheikh Hasina will continue to be relevant in the country's future. 'Memes and photo cards in Bangladesh essentially do what X does in the West. They provide the most effective short-form political commentary to maximise virality,' said US-based Bangladeshi geopolitical columnist Shafquat Rabbee. Bangladesh's central bank unveiled new banknote designs inspired by the graffiti created by students during last July's monsoon uprising, a nod to the art form's widespread popularity as a means of political communication. And rap, Rabbee said, found a natural entry in Bangladeshi politics in 2024. In Bangladesh's context, back in July 2024, political street fighting became a dominant and fitting instrument of protest against Hasina's repressive forces, he said. The artists behind the songs say they never expected their work to echo across Bangladesh. 'I wrote these lyrics myself,' Shezan said, about Kotha Ko. 'I didn't think about how people would respond – we simply acted out of a sense of responsibility to what was happening.' As with Shezan's song, fellow rapper Hannan's Awaaz Utha also went viral online, especially on Facebook, the same day – July 18 – that it was released. 'You hit one, 10 more will come back,' a line said. As Hasina found it, they did. The rappers themselves also joined the protests. Hannan was arrested a week after his song's release and was only freed after Hasina resigned and fled to India. But now, said Shezan, rap was there to stay in Bangladesh's public life, from advertising jingles to lifestyle. 'Many people are consciously or subconsciously embracing hip-hop culture,' he said. 'The future of rap is bright.'
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Belgrade braces for another anti-government protest, calling for an early parliamentary election
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Belgrade is bracing for yet another student-led protest on Saturday to pressure Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic to call for a snap parliamentary election after nearly eight months of rallies that have rattled his firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Tensions have soared ahead of the protest organized by Serbia's university students, a key force behind nationwide anti-corruption demonstrations that started after a renovated rail station canopy collapsed, killing 16 people on Nov. 1. Many blamed the concrete roof crash on rampant government corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects, leading to recurring mass protests. Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party have refused the demand for an early vote and accused protesters of planning to spur violence at orders from abroad, which they didn't specify. In a show of business as usual, the Serbian president handed out presidential awards in the capital to people, including artists and journalists, he deemed worthy, as his loyalists, camping in a park in central Belgrade, announced they would hold a 'literary evening.' 'People need not worry — the state will be defended and thugs brought to justice," Vucic told reporters on Saturday. Serbian presidential and parliamentary elections are due in 2027. Saturday marks St. Vitus Day, a religious holiday and the date when Serbs mark a 14th-century battle against Ottoman Turks in Kosovo that was the start of hundreds of years of Turkish rule, holding symbolic importance. Police earlier this week arrested several people accused of allegedly plotting to overthrow the government and banned entry into the country to several people from Croatia and a theatre director from Montenegro without explanation. Serbia's railway company halted train service over an alleged bomb threat in what critics said was an apparent bid to prevent people from traveling to Belgrade for the rally. Authorities made similar moves back in March, ahead of what was the biggest ever anti-government protest in the Balkan country, which drew hundreds of thousands of people. Vucic's loyalists then set up a camp in a park outside his office, which still stands. The otherwise peaceful gathering on March 15 came to an abrupt end when part of the crowd suddenly scattered in panic, triggering allegations that authorities used a sonic weapon against peaceful protesters, which they have denied. Vucic, a former extreme nationalist, has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago. Though he formally says he wants Serbia to join the European Union, critics say Vucic has stifled democratic freedoms as he strengthened ties with Russia and China.
Al Arabiya
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Belgrade braces for another anti-government protest, calling for early elections
Belgrade is bracing for yet another student-led protest on Saturday to pressure Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic to call for a snap parliamentary election after nearly eight months of rallies that have rattled his firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Tensions have soared ahead of the protest organized by Serbia's university students, a key force behind nationwide anti-corruption demonstrations that started after renovated rail station canopy collapsed, killing 16 people on Nov. 1. Many blamed the concrete roof crash on rampant government corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects, leading to recurring mass protests. Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party have refused the demand for an early vote and accused protesters of planning to spur violence at orders from abroad, which they didn't specify. In a show of business as usual, the Serbian president handed out presidential awards in the capital to people, including artists and journalists, he deemed worthy, as his loyalists, camping in a park in central Belgrade, announced they would hold a 'literary evening.' 'People need not worry — the state will be defended and thugs brought to justice,' Vucic told reporters on Saturday. Serbian presidential and parliamentary elections are due in 2027. Saturday marks St. Vitus Day, a religious holiday and the date when Serbs mark a 14th-century battle against Ottoman Turks in Kosovo that was the start of hundreds of years of Turkish rule, holding symbolic importance. Police earlier this week arrested several people accused of allegedly plotting to overthrow the government and banned entry into the country to several people from Croatia and a theatre director from Montenegro without explanation. Serbia's railway company halted train service over an alleged bomb threat in what critics said was an apparent bid to prevent people from traveling to Belgrade for the rally. Authorities made similar moves back in March, ahead of what was the biggest ever anti-government protest in the Balkan country, which drew hundreds of thousands of people. Vucic's loyalists then set up a camp in a park outside his office, which still stands. The otherwise peaceful gathering on March 15 came to an abrupt end when part of the crowd suddenly scattered in panic, triggering allegations that authorities used a sonic weapon against peaceful protesters, which they have denied. Vucic, a former extreme nationalist, has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago. Though he formally says he wants Serbia to join the European Union, critics say Vucic has stifled democratic freedoms as he strengthened ties with Russia and China.
