As the Middle East continues to be shaken by pro-reform protests and government crackdowns on demonstrators and journalists, top NYU administrators are no doubt keeping a close eye on such activity near students. Last month, the university asked those studying abroad to cancel any travel plans to Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, or Morocco, due to unsafe conditions.
Pro-democracy demonstrations have not spread to the United Arab Emirates, home to NYU’s new campus in Abu Dhabi. However, according to the Associated Press, online discussions about a need for reform have increased. In response, the UAE government has detained three outspoken advocates for human rights and political reform. Last Friday, police arrested blogger Ahmed Mansoor (his final tweets are chilling) after a request from the UAE Attorney General. He had recently signed a petition calling for a democratically elected parliament.
Over the weekend, authorities detained two more activists. The whereabouts of the detainees are unknown. The AP reports:
The pair includes one of the country’s most outspoken academics, Nasser bin Ghaith, who is a financial analyst and an economics professor at the Abu Dhabi branch of Paris’ Sorbonne university. He was detained Sunday in Dubai, said Mohammed al-Mansouri, the lawyer and a fellow activist.
He has frequently criticized the Gulf region’s ruling sheiks for refusing to consider all but the most limited of political reforms and for failing to provide a legal framework for the staggering economic development of the past decade.
In an article he wrote prior to his detention, Bin Ghaith “voiced unusually bold criticism of the Western-allied Gulf Arab states’ political system and their moves to create jobs and raise social spending in a bid to prevent the eruption of popular unrest.”
The willingness of the UAE government to detain a prominent academic who is affiliated with a foreign university in Abu Dhabi (he is only a lecturer at the Sorbonne, not a full professor) naturally raises concerns about NYUAD’s agreements with the government. The university assures us that the campus operates under the principle of academic freedom, which entitles professors to “freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject” and “full freedom in research.”
Bin Ghaith, it is important to note, was detained after making public statements as a citizen, though he also challenged the government in his university lectures. The major question — and the one I asked NYUAD Spokesman Josh Taylor — is: can NYU professors openly criticize the UAE government in the classroom or a public lecture?
“Let me be clear: Academic freedom is a core principle for NYU across our global network, and we support this principle at NYU Abu Dhabi using the same standard we use at Washington Square,” Taylor answered. “NYUAD is committed to an environment that ensures academic freedom, providing a context in which students, faculty and staff can engage in the intellectual exploration and analysis of even the most sensitive issues, while ensuring respect for local culture and customs. This freedom does not extend to tolerating speech, writing, and behavior that intentionally demeans others based on gender, race, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation; nor does it extend to public defamation, libel, or slander. Such behavior runs counter to NYUAD’s educational mission.”
Stephen Underwood, NYU Local’s Abu Dhabi correspondent, adds that students “have determined that none of us feel that our academic freedom is at danger” since the event happened in the public sphere.
However, the message from the UAE government seems loud and clear: dissent will not be tolerated. Andrew Ross, an NYU Professor of Social and Cultural Analysis who recently wrote about the difficulties of establishing a university branch abroad, agrees, calling the arrests “serious violations of human rights standards.” He told NYU Local in a statement:
Ahmed Mansoor and others calling for basic rights for citizens in the UAE have been subject to severe intimidation these past weeks…In Bin Ghaith’s case, [the arrest] also violate[s] the principle of academic freedom that has been vouchsafed by UAE authorities on behalf of faculty of foreign universities operating there. Ordinarily, academics would be among the foremost voices protesting against such violations. Under the circumstances, it is difficult to imagine any academics in the UAE, including our own colleagues at NYU Abu Dhabi, speaking out against the detentions.
Sources in Abu Dhabi explain that no cases have arisen where the campus’ academic freedom has been questioned. But that freedom really only becomes important in the borderline cases where, say, the government feels threatened by a professor’s research that critiques the country’s political system. I hope that an NYUAD politics professor would be comfortable publishing that paper, but given what’s happened this week, it’s not at all clear that they would. And just that uncertainty undermines academic freedom.
After the news of these detentions, NYU would be remiss not to reassess the UAE’s commitment to upholding that freedom at NYUAD.
UPDATE (1:45 PM): Habiba Hamid, an editorial writer at the UAE English-language paper The National, wrote a list of thoughts about the bin Ghaith arrest. She notes that the government taking the step of arresting a “credible domestic dissident for political reasons…seems unprecedented.” She adds, “Whilst thus far it has been impossible to verify whether or not Dr Nasser bin Ghaith has in fact been arrested, the perception that he may have been (as he is an exceptional figure) appears to, whether intentionally or not, criminalise dissent.”
Her thoughts are worth reading in full. Unfortunately, they only increase my concerns about diminished academic freedom at NYUAD.
UPDATE (8:00 PM): Human Rights Watch has sent a letter to NYU President John Sexton asking for the university “to condemn publicly [the UAE government's] outrageous attacks on activists.” In a separate press release, Sarah Whitman, the Middle East director of HRW, said, “Is NYU going to advertise the magnificence of studying in Abu Dhabi while the government persecutes an academic for his political beliefs?”
The letter also asks the Guggenheim and the French Museum Agency (responsible for the Louvre) to condemn the detentions. Both organizations are building museums on Saadiyat Island, where NYUAD’s campus will also eventually be located.
UPDATE (11:00 PM): The NYU chapter of the American Association of University Professors (the group that wrote the academic freedom guidelines that both NYU and NYUAD follow), led by Ross, sent the letter below to Sexton today. It calls for the university to “speak out strongly on behalf of the human rights of these three Emirati citizens.”
UPDATE (4/13): Josh Taylor, NYUAD spokesman, issued this statement today in response to the Human Rights Watch letter:
NYU is a diverse community that prides itself on featuring a robust debate among its constituents on virtually every issue. It long has taken the position — both in NY and throughout its global network — that the institution itself does not take public stands on issues and policies that fall outside of its core mission of operating a world-class university.
It is by focusing on our core mission — the development of powerful centers of ideas, discourse, and critical thinking — that we believe we can best contribute to a global dialogue that facilitates the growth of a more informed, more responsible, humane and just world.”
Dear NYU Local,
As a student of NYU Abu Dhabi I thought it was important to address this issue and am thankful for the very thorough and well handled article on the arrests. The students at NYU Abu Dhabi have been closely following the detentions of the prominent dissenters in Abu Dhabi and have had many conversations about the implications of these arrests on the academic freedom of professors and students. As of right now, the student body doesn’t feel that our academic freedom is in jeopardy; however, it has made everyone more aware of the boundaries between the academic community of NYU Abu Dhabi and the public at large. Although this boundary might be unfortunate, as students we knew that there were certain freedoms of speech that were going to be more limited in public here in the Emirates. As always, living here challenges our definitions of voice, freedom, and public dissent and makes us more aware of the many ways in which we can demonstrate support or disapproval of a decision in a responsible, mature, and culturally sensitive way. The goal of NYU Abu Dhabi is to create students who are apt at handling a multitude of situations in various political, social, economic, and religious spheres and Abu Dhabi and other sites in the Global Network allow us to exercise these practices. We remain conversing, discussing, and creating innovative ways to demonstrate our beliefs and values in ways that will not threaten ourselves, the University, or community members in the Emirates and that will remain within the legal, social, and cultural parameters we have been given.
Let’s all be real here. We all go to NYU and we all know:
Abu Dhabi is a complete waste of money, and the program is going to eventually get shut down because some kind of “incident” that’s gonna happen to a student.
Seriously, who thought up of the idea of putting a college campus with full of young liberals in one of the most unstable regions in the world. Especially with the current situations, not only do the students NOT get any studyabroad experience cause they can’t go anywhere, going to school there for 4 years COMPLETELY defeats the purpose of going to NEW YORK university. [Ed. note: NYUAD students are not only able to study abroad, they are also required to do so as part of their education. Many have already done some brief travel during the school's January term, studying in New York or London for about three weeks.]
As a member of NYUAD’s Class of 2015, I (along with many of my future classmates) have had to consider this idea of Western (or in this case, American) freedom of speech in the UAE. In response to your question to Josh Taylor, i.e. “Can NYU professors openly criticize the UAE government in the classroom or a public lecture?” and his response, essentially Yes, but “This freedom does not extend to tolerating speech … that intentionally demeans others based on gender, race, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation”, I observe that there is no mention made of “political orientation”. I am sure this is just an accidental omission from a rather-long list. Truth is, criticism of the ruling family is banned by law (as is the case in Thailand – a democratic nation) and why is it unreasonable to expect immigrants (because that is what we are doing when we move to Abu Dhabi) to adapt and conform to these new laws? Yes, we will have Academic Freedom, but no one said anything about having American-style Freedom of Speech (which is far more free than in the UK, which ruled the UAE before 1968 and is probably more relevant in this case). Nor are we immune from their laws – protests are illegal. Before this is shot down, let me remind you that the US Government was powerless, legally, to stop Terry Jones’ burning of the Koran, despite public outcry. There will be differences of opinion on whether the Govt should have had the power but just a reminder that any law has its loopholes and problems.
In short: Academic Freedom – yes. We can discuss/analyse/criticise (criticise in the literary analytical sense) the UAE Government. Freedom of speech to say whatever we want? No. I agree with Mansoor’s want for democracy in the UAE but given that protests are illegal, I disagree with his methods.
Due to my position in the UAE, I must post this response anonymously.
As an observer here in Abu Dhabi, I closely follow the developing human rights situation in the UAE. A few points to consider when debating the recent arrests:
- Ahmed Mansour has not been charged with a crime, despite being in police custody for almost a week.
- According to Mansour’s attorney, his client will be charged with possession of alcohol, not slander.
- There is still no news on the whereabouts of Professor bin Gaith and Fahad al Shehhy.
This brings up two issues for any liberal western institution to consider:
- Does the UAE government comply with international standards of freedom of expression as outlined by the United Nations?
- Does the UAE government comply with international standards on individual’s right to a free and fair trial?
Article 19 of the UN Human Rights declaration states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Note that the above article is not a “western” concept, rather a universally agreed upon right.
I see the concept of “slander” or “defamation” has come up several times in the debate surrounding the arrested activists. A few points to consider:
- If the activists are indeed in violation of slander laws on the books in the UAE, why have they not been charged?
- Will the accused have access to legal counsel and will their detention be subject to due-process?
- If this is indeed a case of slander, did the purportedly slandered individual file a case with the Abu Dhabi police? If so, is the complaint accessible to the public?
The issues are indeed complex and deserve a well-thought debate among the international community present in the UAE. The bottom line is this: the arrests of the activists cannot simply be dismissed as an unfortunate side-effect of operating in a non-western culture.
@ Jeffrey: I’m kind of stunned by your position on this. Mansoor broke no laws — he did not criticize the ruling family, he merely called for political reform. Now, he’s been arrested and charged with…alcohol possession, a crime that UAE police have said they wouldn’t prosecute as a lone charge. Bin Ghaith, who is VERY aware of the country’s speech laws, has been missing for days and the police won’t acknowledge his detention.
Beyond the technical aspects of this case, let’s go to your last point. “I agree with Mansoor’s want for democracy in the UAE but given that protests are illegal, I disagree with his methods,” you write.
You’re basically agreeing with the government that they should crack down on dissent! I’m sorry — we can’t just chalk up everything wrong about the UAE to “cultural differences.” There is actually an ethical and moral RIGHT on this issue. Western Observer’s comment gets to the heart of it.
I’m really uncomfortable thinking that students at NYUAD are slipping so far towards moral relativism so quickly.
An important article from Foreign Policy: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/14/the_making_of_a_police_state
Mansoor’s wife has acknowledged that there actually is alcohol in the house (though she added that they didn’t actually drink it) which IS reasonable grounds for arrest and imprisonment. I will draw an analogy to Terry Jones and his attempted Koran burning – was he not detained for questioning briefly over not being able to get a burning permit (and thus the only thing illegal about burning the Koran was essentially a technicality)? This is perhaps similar to what the UAE is doing, i.e. finding some small but illegal and thus punishable offence in an attempt to stymie the ulterior, undesired action. What is the difference?
@Charlie:
“You’re basically agreeing with the government that they should crack down on dissent! I’m sorry — we can’t just chalk up everything wrong about the UAE to “cultural differences.” There is actually an ethical and moral RIGHT on this issue. Western Observer’s comment gets to the heart of it.”
But I’m not. Whatever each of us personally feels about the government of the UAE, they are still legally entitled to crack down on any protests. Dissent is an overarching term that includes “criticism”, the way I interpret it anyway, so I don’t want to use that term in lieu of “protests”. For example, burning the national flag in protest is legal in the US but illegal in France. You cannot take what is acceptable in one country and claim it is acceptable in any country, then call the country out when you find out that it is not acceptable. Whether the law in the UAE is good or bad, it is still there and, short of a revolution, any activist will need to operate within the law to achieve their goals.
However, you are right about bin Ghaith and I do not know why his location has not been announced. I cannot find any reports from the “other” side, and I am loathe to base all my opinions off Western outlets. The fact that he had given a lecture in the past, essentially critical of Dubai’s government, without facing any problems at all suggest that it’s not simply a case of Say Something Critical then Instantly Getting Arrested (why would he have been allowed to give that lecture otherwise?). I’m not sure what else is playing out here, but could it be possible that there is something else going on? I don’t know how to find this out, nor would I know how to fact-check (but given that all media outlets are inherently biased, it is hard to find out the truth anyway), but even democracy activists commit crimes too (as pointed out above). And places like CNN would be more than happy to “spin” any such arrest as directly related to them being Democratic Activists. Most of the sources that say that bin Ghaith was arrested are quoting Mansoor. Not to insult him, but surely there is a degree of bias in whatever he says? While I believe him, it is an important caveat that we only have the word of one person to base everything on.
Please do not take me for a typical NYUAD student – I grew up in New Zealand and have quite a different view of world affairs.
I beleive that our TV screens are now sufficient evidences that Democracy n Human Rights are no longer “Cultural inclinations” or Western ideas systematically being imposed onto Culturally and religiously conservative socities.
In my opinion, the Pro-Democracy revolutions in North Africa and the larger part of the Middle East disprove the assumption that the Arab culture is not open for Human Rights, Social Equality or Political accountability. These democratic principles are now becoming Universal, and imperative in a highly globalized world. So I don’t think it is fair to legitimize certain violations of human n democratic rights by prioritizing state’s legislation. Freedom of Speech, Academic Freedom, and right to peaceful demonstration- in today’s world -are more International than National. And for me, what is happening in the UAE, does raise a significant concern over NYU AD’s academic freedom and both students’ and faculty’s freedom of speech.
How VC Al Bloom or President Sexton will respond to the letter addressed to them is yet to be seen. but I beleive that they have to make thier postion on the issue as clear as possible, for similar incidents may be yet to come in the coming years.
@ Jeffrey: What you’re failing to understand is that none of these men broke any laws. In fact, Mansoor’s own lawyer said he would be the first to prosecute him had he criticized the country’s rulers. If you think arresting him on an unrelated charge that is basically decriminalized is “reasonable,” then I’m not sure we can have a discussion because we’ll just talk past each other.
Futher, I think the country’s restrictions on speech are odious. It seems to me the presence of an institution like NYU — if it were to have full academic freedom — is exactly the kind of thing that can help change norms in the UAE. But, notice: no professors from NYUAD have spoken up about the crackdown. The school refuses to take a public position. As Andrew Ross points out, it would normally be academics criticizing this kind of move.
To be fair, perhaps this being discussed in the classroom. I know the students there now have been talking about it. But if NYUAD is just there to bring prestige to the UAE, I think that’s a sad state of affairs. The university has the potential to make a real impact on civil society. It still can.
From this discussion (and others I have read about NYUAD), it seems that for many, going to college in AD and engaging with AD society is the same as approving of all that AD represents. I disagree. By this logic, you would probably be morally unable to study in any foreign country. My daughter is at a liberal arts college in the US Midwest right now but is transferring for next year. It seems the “liberal” at this liberal arts college means having the same standard liberal opinions as everyone else. My daughter is by no means a conservative, but rather a free thinker. But the moral abolutism at her campus is the antithesis of free thought and creates a climate with no intellectual freedom (ironic that the root of the word “liberal” is freedom). A significant percentage of the faculty and students are blissfully unaware that their radical attempts to promote tolerance and inclusivity in fact result in an intolerant and exclusive intellectual environment.
A dear friend of mine is starting at NYUAD this fall, that is if s/he is allowed to leave his/her own country (I am intentionally vague for his/her protection). S/He comes from one of the most repressive and corrupt countries in the world, and is looking forward to all the freedoms of life in UAE. Believe me that my friend will assure you that the UAE is in the minor leagues when it comes to repressing human rights. Political repression is alive and well, and from what I have seen, NYUAD may very well be a very good place to learn about it, that is if learning is what you really want.
Charlie, Mansoor’s alcohol possession IS illegal. Not in the US maybe, but definitely so in the UAE- I am not sure why you state it is “decriminalised”, because I was of the understanding that for Muslims in the UAE, alcohol is completely forbidden. Perhaps the government’s invocation of this law as grounds to arrest Mansoor were odious, but they were definitely legal. But it’s not as if this is only done in the UAE – Al Capone was arrested and imprisoned for tax evasion (granted, he was a murderer too, but let’s say he was just a anti-Government activist. Would the Govt not be able to legally detain and imprison him for something completely unrelated to what he was actually doing?) A better case is probably that of Tommy Chong, outspoken anti-Vietnam activist who was detained and jailed for selling paraphernalia online. His conviction had a number of irregularities (for example, it was his son, not him, who had done the selling, yet his son got off scotch-free). Any country will have such flaws: the US is not immune to this, no matter what CNN might say.
No NYU professors have spoken out because it’s against their policy to take political sides (this I am taking from Josh Taylor’s statement). Presumably there is no precedent for NYU taking a side in matters and this is likely more an administrative issue than a NYU-doesn’t-care issue. This is something NYU Local has the power to dig up more on, and I myself will be emailing Pres. Sexton to find out more about NYU’s stance.
My bottom line is that we don’t know what is really going on and we are just following CNN (whose only source, I might add, is Mansoor – hardly an unbiased one) and jumping to conclusions that the detentions are purely a result of the democratic activism and nothing else. It MIGHT be true, but we cannot just assume so immediately and jump on the bandwagon led by Western media outlets. What we really need is some clarification by the UAE government, but I don’t know if we’ll get any clarification – but until then, we are at fault if we simply look at one side of events and take it to be completely true.
Correction: the source for CNN is another blogger, Mohammed Mansouri, not the arrested blogger Ahmed Mansoor. He is also a lawyer (which is Al-Jazeera’s source). My point about bias, though, still stands.
@Prof. Todd
You make an excellent point. The presence of NYUAD, or that of it students, should not be construed as an endorsement of the UAE government and its actions, however contrary to international standards of freedom.
The question in my mind is whether NYU is unusually timid in its approach to public criticism of the UAE government, and whether the university is looking the other way because of the generous benefits promised to it by the Crown Prince’s office.
Will professors and students have the freedom needed to ensure a robust academic environment?
From what I have observed, no – dissent will not be tolerated by the UAE government. Professors and students will be summarily deported if they cross certain “red lines.”
That said, this is no Burma. The UAE remains a beacon of light in an otherwise dark peninsula. It is for this very reason that international institutions must continue to encourage the UAE government to move towards freedom, towards international standards, not away from them.
@Jeffrey
Foreign apologists abound in the UAE, with many hiding behind obtuse legal arguments to explain-away reprehensible actions. I’ve noticed you return to the illegality of Mansour’s alcohol possession and link it to related developments in the United States. Two counter-points to consider.
First, the mere existence of a law does not mean it is just, or that it was applied within the framework of the UAE constitution. Remember that police did not have probable cause to search Mansour’s residence, nor was he granted access to an attorney for more than a week.
Second, the United States Government is not a paragon of human rights and should not be used to measure the UAE. International conventions and standards exist – these should be referenced when discussing actions of the UAE government.
Your want for further information is shared by Prof. Gaith’s family. At present, his whereabouts are unknown. Perhaps his fellow academics will speak-out on his behalf, demanding that the UAE government make public his location. But this is unlikely, for they too might share his fate.
With great consternation, I see the UAE slipping backwards in its human rights record. I don’t expect NYUAD to compromise its position by publicly supporting the arrested activists.
Will there be a university faculty member, braving deportation, who will show solidarity with his imprisoned colleague?
I don’t have very much to add, but as a student who was just sent to represent NYU at a conference sponsored by the UAE royal family, I am outraged. I really appreciate this coverage, and especially the commentary from the human rights observer. I’m doing what I can to call attention to this, and I wish somebody at NYUAD would do the same.
@ Madeline: Don’t hold your breath. I think one of the most surprising things about NYUAD students is their consistent defense of administrative and now government policies. I have never seen an undergraduate community that so vocally defends only one side of any argument. In comparison I’ve seen countless blog entries at NYU local from the NYC campus of students dissatisfied or critical of the school or its choices. Why do we never see any critical opinions from NYUAD? You have “academic freedom” in a four block radius and an incredibly diverse student body, yet there are no differences of opinion that question or counter Sexton’s vision?
@Jeffrey, your defense/analysis of Mansour’s arrest on these charges of alcohol possession don’t appear to be the position of a thoughtful young scholar, but those of an apologist/sophist, who appears to be wed to a position that will not withstand the intense moral scrutiny of history. I hope that you spend some time over the next 4 years not only discussing what is factual or “true” but what is right. It’s not a far leap to imagine the UAE government arresting students at NYUAD or elsewhere, and holding them without due-process for similar or even lesser trumped up charges. I encourage you to demand more of your school and more of yourself.
Beer in the house…OOOOH now that’s a biggie! Quick, call 999! Whoop whoop! Red alert!
Criticising the government publicly – well, all I can say is that its been going on in my home country for hundreds of years.Now before you accuse me of being culturally inept, let me state that I live in the UAE, and have done so for many, many years. I speak Arabic (I am Caucasian) and understand the sensitivities. However, this country is going to have a hard time projecting a favourable image if trying to be modern whilst retaining strict traditions. How can you have a Ferrari World and the world’s tallest building to attract tourists, when at the same time, the cops nab people for kissing on the cheek in public (yet do nothing about the thousands of people who spit in the street), and Etisalat tries to download snoopware onto everyones’ Blackberries – the list goes on.
[...] Charlie Eisenhood (12 April 2011) has published a thoughtful piece on the NYULocal blog: “UAE Detains Prominent Professor, Raising Questions About Academic Freedom at NYUAD“ [...]
As students living and studying in the UAE we have been challenged with finding innovative ways in which we can focus our energy and resources in order to produce the best results for the people of the emirates, the foreign workers, the students, and the university. Although we do not release raging letters or condemning editorials we, as students, have been very vocal about our concerns, beliefs, and values regarding human rights in the Emirates.
Being thousands of miles away, I understand the frustration by students at NYU Washington Sq., the AAUP, or the commentators on this article when they do not see a press release or an editorial by our students or staff; however, they can feel assured that here, in Abu Dhabi, the student body does MANY things to promote human rights and voice our concerns within the Abu Dhabi community. We are by no means a dormant or ignorant community of students. In fact, we have worked hard over this past academic year to establish strong bonds with local NGOs and community organizations to get our students more connected and more involved with local initiatives. Advocacy based student groups and active projects in and for the community have been initiated by the students and supported by faculty. The students at NYUAD have met with University administration to discuss issues, such as workers rights, in the Emirates. We are a community of students who have actively chosen to take a “actions speak louder than words” approach in the UAE, and in the region, because we believe strongly that this is a more effective way to express our views and mobilize change.
I am an NYUAD political science and philosophy major. Clearly, I am interested in academic freedom, particularly in the context of political debate. This afternoon, at 4:30 pm Abu Dhabi time, ‘Ethix’ – a student organisation at NYUAD – will be facilitating an open forum discussion on political activism in the U.A.E. and similar regions.
@Tom Levin – I have never seen a student body so committed to real change. The students at NYUAD are not defending government arrests of political activists (IF it turns out that this is in fact what has been happening), nor are we completely silent in speaking against them. The difference between NYU in New York and NYUAD is simply the way in which NYU students engage in these kinds of discussion and political reform.
No, we aren’t taking to the streets and shouting in protest about the recent arrests. For one thing, we don’t have the facts necessary to do so. Yes, if we did do so, there is a risk that we may be arrested. But we could also get arrested for public displays of affection or intoxication – probably normal activities on almost any college campus. Would blatantly disregarding these laws cause them to be changed? Would opposing them in public actually cause political reform? (despite the fact that technically, as holders of U.A.E. student visas we have very little, if any, right to impact local government policy). We have no right, no obligation and no reason to protest in such an ineffective way. Regardless of our ideological positions.
What we are doing is creating discussion on campus and in online forums to attempt to challenge the institutions, policies and practices of the U.A.E. in a fashion that doesn’t foster an environment more typical of revolutions than open, honest and civil disagreement. We work within the frameworks that exist to create as many candid currents of conversation as possible, with maximum involvement with the U.A.E. community.
Professor Todd and Nicole could not have put it better. Let’s be real.
Why is the standard of political activism that I have understood from some of the comments on this thread to be a US-centric concept? It would be logically flawed to think that public dissent as defined by a certain part of the world is the only acceptable way to promote a certain type of right. I would challenge those who hold public outcry as the best tool for rights activism to look for a contextualised understanding of culture.
What is the best way to promote rights? The practical answer to this question does not lie in an absolute answer – to do so would be to disregard the differences of culture and history. That said, I agree that differences of culture do not permit for any and all differences in rights; academic discussion is needed. But through what avenue – here I think lies a distinction that needs to be made. In parts of the world that hold different world-views, public outcry is just not accepted in the same way as it is in the US – (indeed should it? Why IS the US culture the standard?)
If you talk to the students at NYUAD and experience some of their initiatives, you may find they have approached their voluntary task of rights activism in the UAE in an incredible and effective way.
So I challenge those who believe in moral absolutism to see that it inherently contradicts practical absolutism – if there is ‘a’ moral right, to ignore the context and history of a society and to plow headlong into achieving ‘the’ moral right, would still be moral? I would not agree.