Shirin Vossoughi has used her academic platform at Northwestern University to amplify extremist, anti-Israel narratives, legitimize radical student activism, and promote groups and individuals linked to terrorism. Through her prolific social media activity and public endorsements, Vossoughi has become a vocal figure pushing divisive rhetoric that endangers campus inclusivity and student safety.
Active Support for Anti-Israel and Extremist Movements
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Vossoughi is a member of NU Educators for Justice in Palestine (NU EJP), an organization that has repeatedly defended pro-Hamas encampments and promoted BDS ideology.
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She has signed multiple public letters demanding divestment from Israel, falsely accusing the Jewish state of “genocide” and “scholasticide” while ignoring terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas and other radical factions.
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Through her social media presence, Vossoughi consistently amplifies content from groups like PACBI (BDS movement), Quds News Network (a Hamas-affiliated outlet), and other anti-Israel propaganda networks.
Disseminating Antisemitic and Pro-Terror Rhetoric
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On October 7, 2023—the day of Hamas’s brutal massacre—Vossoughi reshared a post dismissing any condemnation of Hamas unless it began and ended with a condemnation of Israel’s existence, effectively rationalizing terrorism.
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She repeatedly accused Israel of genocide throughout the Gaza conflict, without acknowledging the war crimes committed by Hamas, Hezbollah, or other Palestinian terror groups.
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Shared a post mourning Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists as “resistance fighters,” glorifying mass murderers and whitewashing their atrocities.
Normalizing Encampments and Disruptive Activism
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Publicly endorsed and promoted the Northwestern Gaza Solidarity Encampment in April 2024, encouraging students to “occupy the area until Northwestern stops supporting Israeli occupation.”
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Framed illegal student actions as “peaceful resistance” despite widespread reports of harassment, intimidation, and antisemitic incidents at these encampments.
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Regularly posted photos and positive coverage of student “occupations” and sit-ins organized by extremist groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace and SJP chapters.
Ties to Extremist Individuals and Organizations
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Repeatedly shared and endorsed content from anti-Israel activists such as Noura Erakat, Omar Barghouti (founder of the BDS movement), and Steven Thrasher (notorious for promoting extremist views against Israel).
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Amplified calls for boycott, sanctions, and the dismantling of Israel as a Jewish state, directly promoting ideologies tied to the destruction of an entire nation.
Why Shirin Vossoughi Poses a Threat to Campus Safety and Integrity
- Normalizes terrorist propaganda under the guise of academic freedom.
- Promotes antisemitic tropes and minimizes Jewish suffering.
- Empowers student radicalism that undermines campus safety and inclusion.
- Amplifies rhetoric that glorifies extremist violence.
Conclusion
Rather than fostering critical thinking or promoting genuine social justice, Shirin Vossoughi uses her role as a professor to indoctrinate students with extremist ideologies and erode the principles of open, respectful academic dialogue. Her actions directly contribute to a toxic campus environment, embolden antisemitism, and jeopardize Northwestern’s reputation as a serious academic institution.
