Fatemeh Shams, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), has repeatedly used her academic platform to promote antisemitic rhetoric, glorify Hamas terrorism, and spread conspiracy theories. Under the guise of academia, she has justified mass violence, excused war crimes, and actively contributed to a hostile and dangerous campus environment.
Publicly Defending Hamas and Justifying Terrorism
Shams openly defended Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization responsible for the brutal massacre of civilians, by claiming its existence was justified. Speaking at a pro-terror rally on October 16, 2023, she declared, “As long as the fascist Netanyahu regime exists, Hamas has a right to exist.” This statement not only excused Hamas’s atrocities but also validated terrorism as a legitimate response, revealing her extremist ideology.
On October 18, 2023, Shams once again took the stage at an anti-Israel rally, falsely accusing Israel of bombing a Baptist hospital despite overwhelming evidence that a misfired rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad was responsible. Ignoring facts, she fueled propaganda and incited further hatred, all while standing alongside activists calling for “intifada” and violent resistance.
Spreading Antisemitic Conspiracies and Inciting Hatred
Beyond her public statements, Shams actively disseminates antisemitic propaganda. On October 19, 2023, she shared a petition that accused Israel of being a “racist apartheid regime” that “hates innocence so kills children.” This type of rhetoric, which echoes centuries-old blood libels, directly contributes to the normalization of Jew-hatred.
Shams has also propagated the false claim that Palestinians have been living through their “own 9/11 since 1948,” delegitimizing Jewish history and distorting reality to fit her extremist narrative. Her Facebook posts repeatedly push the idea that Hamas’s so-called “resistance” is justified, despite the group’s well-documented war crimes and terrorist attacks against civilians.
Weaponizing Academia to Promote Extremism
As a faculty member, Shams has abused her position at Penn to push radical activism over scholarship. Instead of fostering an open academic environment, she has aligned herself with groups that promote extremism, ensuring that antisemitism and hostility towards Jewish students flourish on campus.
She signed a faculty letter supporting the Palestine Writes Literature Festival, an event that featured speakers known for promoting conspiracies about Jewish power and advocating for violence. Additionally, she has positioned herself as a self-proclaimed “intersectional feminist activist,” yet openly defends a terrorist group that oppresses women, murders LGBTQ+ individuals, and enforces draconian religious rule.
A Danger to Campus and Beyond
Fatemeh Shams is not an academic promoting intellectual discussion—she is an activist committed to glorifying violence, spreading antisemitism, and justifying terrorism. Her actions make it clear: she is an extremist who has chosen to stand with those who celebrate mass murder rather than uphold truth, justice, or academic integrity.
By allowing figures like Shams to remain in positions of influence, universities risk enabling a culture of hate, radicalization, and open hostility against Jewish students. Her presence in academia is not just problematic—it is dangerous.
