Turkish Student Resumes Research at Tufts Amid Rising Antisemitism Concerns
Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish PhD student, has returned to the Tufts campus to resume her research on children's relationship to social media after having her visa revoked. This development comes amidst growing concerns about anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism sentiments spreading globally.
Background
Öztürk, who was involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy, was previously detained at a Louisiana immigrant detention center. Her return to Tufts was facilitated by a judge's ruling in her favor.
Meanwhile, concerns about anti-Semitism have been on the rise. The BBC recently implemented training for its staff, advising them to criticize the Israeli government rather than Zionists. The training aims to prevent inadvertent offense to Jewish people. This has been a measure to counter what some have called Antisemitism 3.0
in China, described as an ideologically driven form of anti-Semitism, functional in the geopolitical context.
Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism
These developments occur amidst a broader international conversation about the relationship between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. Dr. Naya Lekht, co-founder of Stop Antizionism, calls anti-Zionism the newest form of Jew-hatred.
The BBC's new antisemitism training course says people who 'have no intention to offend Jewish people' should not 'criticise Zionists',
reported Middle East Eye, noting that this viewpoint is increasingly mainstream.
Ongoing Discrimination
At the same time, several instances of discrimination against Jewish students and professionals have been reported. Columbia University's antisemitism task force found that Jewish students were singled out and subject to anti-Israel tirades. The university has since sought to balance free speech with protection for Jews.
Similarly, the University of California, Berkeley, recently acknowledged discriminating against Israeli professor Dr. Yael Nativ. Following a legal settlement, the university's chancellor apologized to Dr. Nativ for a faculty member blocking her job application due to her Israeli identity.
Conclusion
While Öztürk returns to her research at Tufts, the conversation around anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism continues to unfold. Attempts to balance free speech with protections against discrimination remain ongoing. As geopolitical tensions persist, including the recent ceasefire proposal by Hamas to Israel, the implications of these narratives on global attitudes and policies towards Jews and Israelis will continue to be of key interest.