This is after a student wearing a black and white scarf interrupted the recent graduation ceremony of New York University Abu Dhabi and screamed “Free Palestine” as he was receiving his certificate.
This attack that was reported to have happened in May has however, attracted a lot of attention especially after it emerged that the student was later expelled from the United Arab Emirates.
As disgusting as it may be, the episode has helped highlight the intricate position the UAE is in as it continues to recognize Israel in the middle of the war in Gaza.
Before the graduation, the students were told that the Palestinian flag or any cultural attire in the form of scarves could not be worn on campus. The student who disobeyed this order was said to be arrested and expelled and this caused a stir among the people as many accused the organizers of eradicating free speech among learners.
Several claims have been made indicating that NYU Abu Dhabi did not shield students and staff from apprehension and deportation, and this is especially so if they are non-Western.
However, the UAE keeps good diplomatic relations with Israel; now, it needs to improve relations at the public level. While the war goes on in Gaza, people’s annoyance in the UAE has grown, which adds to the pressure on the country’s tricky position.
