UAE deported a student wearing Palestinian keffiyeh at graduation ceremony

 The UAE has expelled a student who wrapped a Palestinian keffiyeh and screamed “Free Palestine” in the course of a graduation ceremony at NYU Abu Dhabi in May.

 The student, who has not been named, was arrested by the police and expelled from the country immediately after the act was committed, noted the Associated Press. Before the ceremony, protests were held, and students were told not to wave the Palestinian flag on the campus. An email stating ‘no cultural attire’ for the graduation was also sent out.  

 Starting from the summer of 2020, when the UAE officially recognised Israel, it has been facing the dilemma of having Arab Street on its side in support of Palestinians while maintaining a friendly relationship with the Jewish state. Arab leaders and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) have condemned the UAE and other Arab nations for engaging diplomatically and commercially with Israel as this goes against the traditional Arab League policy concerning the non-recognition of Israel without a solution to the Palestinian issue. 

 In an interview with AP, New York University Abu Dhabi stated that Academic autonomy remains in all NYU-affiliated campuses. Yet, in none of those locations are “members of the NYU community beyond local law.” The university explained that it does not have any influence over UAE immigration law. 

 The rights of the citizens of UAE remain highly limited, and freedom of speech is actively suppressed; there are no political parties in the country. Several organizations concerned with human rights have singled out the UAE authorities with such practices as arbitrary incarceration of citizens and foreigners alike. 

 Unlike many of the other Gulf states, the UAE again has not witnessed mass protests in solidarity with Gaza despite Israeli attacks since October 2023. 

 The event under discussion sheds light on the peculiar situation the UAE has found itself in; on the one hand, while embracing the new partner and maintaining positive relations with Israel, on the other, the country is to take into consideration the internal and especially the regional sentiments related to the Palestinian issue. Even as a student, Let’s consider the deportation of this student and analyze it with the understanding that the UAE regime is keen on the suppression of political freedom and free speech. 

 As the UAE continues to establish its external and internal policies, events such as this one may attract the global community’s attention and spark debates regarding human rights and free speech in the Persian Gulf state.