Meet Zareena Grewal: The Yale professor who stands with Hamas and against Israel

Zareena Grewal is an associate professor of American studies, religious studies, anthropology, ethnicity, race, and migration at Yale University. She is also a documentary filmmaker and the author of two books on Islam and Muslims in the United States. Her research focuses on race, gender, religion, nationalism, and transnationalism across a wide spectrum of American Muslim communities.

Controversial tweets

On October 7, 2023, she posted a series of tweets that expressed her support for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and taking dozens of hostages. Zareena Grewal also blamed Israel for the violence and accused it of genocide, apartheid, and occupation.

Some of her tweets are:

• “I stand with Hamas. I stand with the Palestinian people’s right to resist occupation and oppression by any means necessary. Israel is a settler-colonial state that has no legitimacy or right to exist.”
• “Hamas is not a terrorist organization. It is a liberation movement that is fighting for the freedom and dignity of its people. Israel is the real terrorist state that is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity every day.”
• “The world must condemn Israel’s brutal aggression and support Hamas’s heroic resistance. The US must stop funding Israel’s genocide and end its complicity in the oppression of Palestinians. Free Palestine from the river to the sea.”

Backlash and response

Zareena Grewal’s tweets sparked outrage and condemnation from many people, including students, alumni, faculty, and Jewish organizations. They accused her of spreading hate speech, inciting violence, and endorsing terrorism. They also called for her to be fired from Yale or to resign.

Some of the reactions are:

• “As a Yale alumna and a Jewish woman, I am appalled and disgusted by Professor Grewal’s tweets. She is promoting antisemitism, violence, and extremism. She is unfit to teach at Yale or any other academic institution. She should be fired immediately.”
• “Professor Grewal’s tweets are an insult to the victims of Hamas’s terror attack and their families. She is glorifying a group that has killed innocent civilians, including children and elderly people. She is also denying Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. She should be ashamed of herself.”
• “I am a student in Professor Grewal’s class and I am deeply disappointed and disturbed by her tweets. She is supposed to be a scholar and an educator, but she is spreading propaganda and lies. She is also creating a hostile and unsafe environment for Jewish students and others who disagree with her views. She should apologize and resign.”

Grewal has not deleted her tweets or issued any apology or clarification. Instead, she has doubled down on her stance and accused her critics of Islamophobia, racism, and censorship. She has also claimed that she has received death threats and harassment from pro-Israel supporters.

Some of her responses are:

• “I will not be silenced or intimidated by the Zionist lobby and its allies. They are trying to smear me and suppress my academic freedom and free speech. They are the ones who are hateful and violent, not me.”
• “I am not antisemitic or anti-Jewish. I am anti-Zionist and anti-Israel. Zionism is a racist ideology that oppresses Palestinians and violates their human rights. Israel is an illegitimate state that occupies Palestinian land and kills Palestinian people.”
• “I have received many messages of support and solidarity from my colleagues, students, friends, and fellow Muslims. They understand that I am speaking the truth and standing for justice. They also know that I am not alone in my struggle. We are all Hamas.”

Yale’s statement

Yale University has issued a statement distancing itself from Zareena Grewal’s tweets but reaffirming its commitment to academic freedom and diversity.

The statement reads:

“Yale University does not endorse or support the views expressed by Professor Grewal on her personal Twitter account. Her tweets do not reflect the official position or values of the university.

Yale condemns all forms of violence, terrorism, hatred, and discrimination. We mourn the loss of life and express our sympathy to the families affected by the recent attack in Israel.

Yale upholds the principles of academic freedom and free expression for all members of its community. We respect the right of our faculty to express their opinions on matters of public interest, even when they are controversial or unpopular.

However, we also expect our faculty to exercise their academic freedom responsibly and respectfully, in accordance with our standards of civility and mutual respect.

We are aware that Professor Grewal’s tweets have caused pain and anger among many members of our community, especially Jewish students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.

We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for learning and teaching at Yale. We value the contributions of all our community members, regardless of their background, identity, or beliefs.

We encourage dialogue and debate on complex and challenging issues, but we also urge everyone to do so with civility and respect for each other.

We will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate actions as necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.”

Zareena Grewal Trivia

Quick Summary

• Grewal is a historical anthropologist and a cultural studies scholar who studies the global Islamic revival and its impact on American Muslim communities.
• She is a former Fulbright scholar who has conducted fieldwork in Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, and the United States.
• Zareena Grewal is a recipient of several awards and grants from various foundations and institutions, including the Luce Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the Social Science Research Council.
• She is a frequent commentator and contributor to various media outlets, such as NPR, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and The Atlantic.