The recent surge of one of the world’s oldest hatreds has been widely discussed and analyzed. It is evident that the presence of antisemitism on our campuses needs to be eradicated.
To effectively combat the spread of Jew hatred, it is crucial to address not only the anti-Israel and anti-American sentiments expressed during campus protests but also the underlying factors that fuel antisemitism. It is important to acknowledge the role played by Qatari and Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated funding, as well as anti-democratic and anti-American forces, in perpetuating this hate. By recognizing and addressing these root causes, we can work towards extinguishing the flames of antisemitism.
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Northwestern University, a renowned private research and teaching institution, presents a cautionary tale.
In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights made an announcement that it had initiated a Title VI investigation against Northwestern University. The investigation was prompted by the university’s failure to adequately address incidents of harassment targeting Jewish students. Later, in May, the House Education and the Workforce Committee furthered this concern by scheduling a hearing to examine Northwestern University’s response to antisemitism and its failure to ensure the protection of Jewish students.
The House committee has labeled the recent Northwestern Gaza solidarity encampment as a hub of antisemitism and harassment towards Jewish members of the university. It is concerning that student organizations have already shown support for the murder, rape, and kidnapping of Jewish Israelis in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 massacre. Northwestern’s campus has also witnessed the circulation of explicit antisemitic propaganda.
In the months that followed, the rise of antisemitism created a hostile climate. The aftermath of the Hamas massacre prompted the establishment of the “Advisory Committee on Preventing Antisemitism and Hate” at Northwestern University. However, due to the university’s inadequate response in addressing the toxic campus environment of antisemitism, anti-democratic sentiments, and intimidation tactics, seven members of the committee decided to resign.
Understanding the context of the pervasive antisemitism on campus is crucial, and unsurprisingly, it revolves around the idea of “following the money.”
In 2008, Northwestern University expanded its reach to Education City in Doha, Qatar. Since then, around 500 students have graduated from Northwestern University in Qatar. This small yet influential petrostate, with a population of less than 350,000, has invested billions of dollars in American campuses located in Education City. Surprisingly, a significant portion of these funds has remained unreported and unregulated by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).
Northwestern University has received nearly $582 million in gifts and contracts from Qatar since its establishment in Education City, according to the DOE.
Qatar does not operate as a Jeffersonian democracy. Instead, the Qatari government, which is authoritarian in nature, holds a deep commitment to Islamism. According to the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) Report titled “The Qatari Regime, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood,” the ruling Al-Thani royal family in Qatar has a spiritual obligation (Bay’ha) to the Muslim Brotherhood. Consequently, they adhere to the religious rulings, edicts, and fatwas of the Brotherhood. As a result, Qatar has become a refuge for Islamist and antisemitic individuals, including Hamas and the Taliban.
Despite its dedication to promoting Islamist ideology and political activism globally, Northwestern University in Qatar specializes primarily in journalism. The Qatar Foundation approached Northwestern to establish a presence in Doha Education City with the aim of training future journalists who can contribute to Qatar’s media influence abroad.
In 2013, it was announced that there would be a collaboration and knowledge transfer between Al Jazeera and Northwestern University in Qatar. This decision raised concerns, as Al Jazeera has been criticized by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for its perceived anti-Israel bias. The collaboration seemed to reflect Qatar’s intention to spread its ideological rhetoric beyond its borders. Specifically, Northwestern University in Qatar aimed to train its students, who aspired to become global journalists, under the guidance of Qatari state proxies. This represents a significant and potentially harmful utilization of soft power, with implications for both national and international interests.
Instances have been observed where the socio-cultural regulations of Qatar have influenced the atmosphere at Northwestern University in Qatar. In 2020, an event featuring the Lebanese Indie rock band Mashrou’ Leila, whose lead singer is openly gay, faced restrictions and was not allowed to take place on the university’s campus. A survey conducted in 2021 revealed that a significant majority, approximately 75 percent, of professors at Northwestern University in Qatar hold the view, as reported by Al Jazeera, that Israel is an “apartheid” state and commits “crimes against humanity.”
The extensive impact of Qatari funding on American campuses, specifically at Northwestern University, raises concerns about our core values and the credibility of our educational institutions. The existence of antisemitism, sometimes masked as anti-Israel sentiment, poses a significant threat to the fundamental principles of academic freedom and democracy.
