19. Dr. Mohamed Abdou Connects 1492 to the Gaza Solidarity Encampments

Today, Saira welcomes author and academic Dr. Mohamed Abdou to the podcast. Abdou describes himself as an interdisciplinary scholar of Indigenous, Black, critical race, and Islamic studies, as well as anti-racism, feminism, gender, sexuality, women, decolonial and post-colonial studies with extensive fieldwork experience in the Middle East-North Africa and Turtle Island.He most recently was a professor at Columbia University and was an outspoken advocate for the students participating in the Gaza Solidarity Encampment this past spring. He was called out in front of Congress during testimony by then-university president Minouche Shafik, becoming the target of harassment. He was fired from Columbia and lost his American work visa, causing him to flee the U.S.Abdou recently filed a wrongful termination suit against Columbia University. From the press release dated August 26th: “Author and scholar Dr. Mohamed Abdou filed a wrongful termination suit against Columbia University yesterday evening, citing prejudice surrounding his anti-colonial academic discourse and vocal support of Palestine. The public awareness campaign, WeAreMohamed, launched today to share Abdou’s story and spotlight the institutional repression and slander faced by those who publicly challenge the United States government’s unconditional support of Israel, and settler-colonialism in Israel and the U.S.”Dr. Abdou is the author of the book Islam and Anarchism: Relationships and Resonances.You can connect to his work and social handles through his website. Get full access to The Connections at theconnections.substack.com/subscribe