Layla Saliba is a graduate student and activist known for her involvement in pro-Hamas movements, her explicit support for terrorist organizations, and her pattern of propagating hate-filled rhetoric. Through her participation in rallies, protests, and social media activity, Saliba has showcased her alignment with extremist ideologies that glorify violence and target specific groups.
Key Activities and Statements
Support for Terrorism
- January 25, 2024: Saliba defended activists who supported attacks on commercial ships by Yemen’s Houthi group, tweeting: “Yemen, Yemen makes us proud! Turn another ship around!” The Houthi movement, backed by Iran, is internationally recognized as a terrorist organization known for its violent rhetoric, including slogans calling for “Death to America” and “Death to the Jews.”
- Saliba retweeted a video celebrating Ghassan Kanafani, a spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), who was connected to the Lod Airport Massacre in 1972, a terrorist attack that killed 26 and wounded 80. She referred to Kanafani as a “genius…a beautiful fiction writer.”
Hatred of Specific Groups
- On January 27, 2024, Saliba promoted the policy of “right of return,” a contentious topic used to delegitimize certain state sovereignty. Her endorsement included an accusation that international relief funds for displaced populations were merely “compensation owed by the West.”
- Saliba has shared inflammatory poetry, such as lines reading: “‘America’ / They will bomb your homeland / Burn your olive trees to the ground / And claim to be the greatest nation in the world.” This reflects her disdain for Western countries and their policies.
Participation in Violent Protests
- In May 2024, Saliba was prominently involved in the pro-Hamas encampment at Columbia University, an event marked by violence, hostage-taking, and vandalism. She was seen in videos wearing a black mask and keffiyeh while participating in chants such as “Say it loud, say it clear, we don’t want no Zionists here!”
- At the encampment, activists displayed materials calling for violence, including pamphlets that read: “…DISRUPT/RECLAIM/DESTROY… DEATH TO AMERICA!… LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA!”
Public Rhetoric Glorifying Extremism
- Saliba has retweeted posts dismissing civilian casualties in conflict zones, accusing victims of perpetuating violence. For example, she echoed a tweet in January 2024 that suggested retaliatory violence was justified due to historical grievances.
- During protests, she supported chants that included “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a phrase widely regarded as a call for erasing territorial boundaries through conflict.
Impact and Influence
Layla Saliba’s activism extends beyond rhetoric into organizing and leading protests that foster hostility and glorify violence. Her repeated endorsements of extremist ideologies, coupled with her participation in actions targeting specific groups, make her a polarizing and controversial figure. As a graduate student at Columbia, Saliba’s influence among peers raises concerns about the spread of hateful and dangerous ideologies in academic spaces.
Conclusion
Layla Saliba’s actions and words paint her as a figure who perpetuates division and endorses extremism. Her glorification of terrorism, vilification of specific groups, and participation in violent demonstrations highlight her as a dangerous influence in academic and social activism circles.
