UAE deported student over Palestine solidarity at graduation ceremony

Abu Dhabi (QNN)- The UAE has deported a student who wore the Palestinian keffiyeh and shouted “Free Palestine” at Abu Dhabi’s New York University campus graduation ceremony in May.

The student – who has not been identified – was taken into police custody and then deported just days after the incident, according to Associated Press.

Students at the university told the news agency that prior to the ceremony they had been warned that “displaying the Palestinian flag anywhere on campus is not permitted”, while an email was sent banning “cultural attire” at the graduation.

NYU Abu Dhabi told AP that while it had been “guaranteed academic authority” on campus, “in none of our locations … are members of the NYU community immune from local law.

“NYU has no authority over any nation’s immigration or law enforcement actions or decisions,” it said.

The UAE was the first country to agree to normalize ties with the occupation state under the Abraham Accords, a pact brokered by the United States, a move that was followed by Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

Palestinians condemned the normalization agreements, saying they encouraged Israel’s denial of their rights and did not serve the Palestinian cause.