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Who Is Asna Tabassum? USC Valedictorian's Speech Canceled After Antisemitism Row

Asna Tabassum is a Muslim biomedical engineering student at the University of Southern California. She has identified as a first-generation American of South Asian descent. USC has barred 2024's valedictorian Asna Tabassum from delivering the valedictorian speech over her pro-Palestinian social media posts.

TN World Desk

Updated Apr 17, 2024, 00:57 IST

(Photo: X)

The University of Southern California has barred 2024's valedictorian Asna Tabassum from delivering the valedictorian speech at the commencement ceremony after Jewish groups alleged that her pro-Palestinian social media posts are often antisemitic.

Tabassum, a Muslim fourth-year biomedical engineering student at USC, said in a statement that she is "shocked" and "profoundly disappointed" by the University's decision. In the statement, she identified as a first-generation American of South Asian descent.

According to a report by NBC News, she is from Chino Hills – a city east of Los Angeles. She has also been pursuing a course in resistance to genocide, per a report by The Guardian.

“I am both shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed that the university is succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice,” she said in the statement released through the Council of American Islamic Relations (Cair).

According to the Guardian report, there is a link in Tabassum's Instagram account that leads to a slideshow encouraging readers to learn about the Israel-Palestine conflict. The slide show also calls for "one Palestinian state”, saying that it “would mean Palestinian liberation and the complete abolishment of the state of Israel”.

She was chosen as the valedictorian at USC from among around 100 graduating students with perfect or nearly perfect grades who had applied to be valedictorian. However, following the backlash from Jewish groups, the University cancelled her valedictory speech.

Andrew T Guzman, the provost of USC, said announcing the cancellation that "substantial risks relating to security and disruption" was the reason why the decision was taken.

“Over the past several days, discussion related to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor,” Guzman said. “The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of U.S.C. and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at the commencement.”

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