By Iclal Turan
WASHINGTON (AA) - US Muslim group on Friday condemned administrations of New York universities over the arrests of pro-Palestine student protestors.
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) denounced the University of Buffalo, The New School, New York University and Stony Brook University administrations for the arrests of students who are attending pro-Palestine protests at their campuses this week.
The CAIR-NY said many students, faculty, and community members were taken into custody, and called on attorneys, Alvin Bragg of Manhattan, Raymond Tirney of Suffolk County and acting District Attorney Michael Keane of Erie County, to drop all charges against the arrested students.
“It is deeply troubling to see this continuing trend of university administrations resorting to extreme punitive measures against their own students instead of engaging in dialogue and addressing their concerns,” CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said in a statement.
“Students have been peacefully assembling, while universities are inviting violence onto campus by bringing in law enforcement,” Nasher added.
More than 2,000 people, including students, have been arrested by US authorities during the pro-Palestine demonstrations, with protestors demanding universities divest from Israel and condemning the war on Gaza, where more than 34,000 people have been killed.
Nationwide demonstrations gained momentum last month after Columbia University asked the New York Police Department to forcibly evict a group of students who staged an encampment on a campus lawn. Over 100 people were arrested, but the protesters quickly adapted and formed another sit-in.
They were forcibly removed on Tuesday night by police from that site, as well as a building they occupied.
Students in other countries including Canada, Australia, France and Egypt have also organized demonstrations at universities in solidarity with Palestine.
