Stand up for true free speech

By Ibrahim Al-Akash     10/29/24 10:57pm

Ibrahim Al-Akash

Editor’s Note: This is a guest opinion that has been submitted by a member of the Rice community. The views expressed in this opinion are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Thresher or its editorial board. All guest opinions are fact-checked to the best of our ability and edited for clarity and conciseness by Thresher editors. 

The recent climate on campus has seen rising tensions around free speech and inclusivity, particularly in discussions concerning Israel and Palestine.

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Students should have the freedom to express their beliefs and opinions without being dictated by the views of others, even if those opinions might make people uncomfortable or open up difficult conversations. However, Rice’s championing of events that legitimize Israel while ignoring the treatment of pro-Palestinian students demonstrate its lack of support for meaningful discourse and free speech of all community members. 

Claims to cherish students’ civil liberties appear hollow when one endorses a state actively committing genocide and designated as an apartheid state by multiple human rights organizations — including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. How is it inclusive to support a regime that, as Ta-Nehisi Coates put it, “advanced beyond the Jim Crow South and segregated not just the pools and the fountains, but the water itself”? 

Is it championing freedom to support a state that forces Palestinians to travel on segregated roads and subjects children to military checkpoints on their way to school? How can anyone advocate for rational thought when the state they defend has killed more journalists, scholars and artists than any other country in recent history, and has destroyed all universities in Gaza? And how can anyone claim to respect the rule of law while supporting a state that continually defies international law and challenges  the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for seeking arrest warrants for its leaders? 

While I believe students have the right to express these views, they only serve to expose their underlying hate and racism. Freedom of speech, however, should not be reserved for just one side; it must apply equally to everyone, without exception. 

Groups such as Rice SJP do not exclude or marginalize students based on identity. In fact, many Jewish students are leaders and active members of SJP, demonstrating that the organization is open to all who seek justice and equality, regardless of religion or background. SJP’s mission is to advocate for human rights and challenge injustices — not to alienate or silence others. Calls to cancel events like the “Israel at 75” conference reflect the organization’s desire to hold Rice accountable for hosting events that may inadvertently legitimize a state accused by the United Nations of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. 

Individuals who support these events are welcome to come to campus and express their views. However, for the university to actively endorse and celebrate such events is deeply troubling. It demonstrates a blatant disregard for the many students whose families and friends have been raped, tortured, killed and displaced by Israeli forces. By allowing these events, Rice isn’t fostering open dialogue; it’s rewarding violence and turning a blind eye to the suffering of its own community members.

This double standard is evident in the treatment SJP members receive on campus, where they often face harassment and intimidation from supporters of Israel — some members have even been doxxed and threatened directly. Painting SJP as a villain exacerbates hostility against its members but also stifles dissent and meaningful dialogue on campus.

Students are critical thinkers capable of forming independent opinions based on their own judgments and experiences. It is essential that all students feel free to express their thoughts and beliefs, even if those views may be uncomfortable for others. A true commitment to free speech means embracing all perspectives — not just those that align with one’s own beliefs. 

To ensure our campus remains a space for open dialogue, we each have a role in listening respectfully to different viewpoints, questioning with curiosity rather than judgment, and standing against any attempts to silence others. By engaging with each other openly, we build a community where all voices are valued and where true understanding can flourish.

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