2025-04-03T19:12:31.000Z

Yale Law School has made the controversial decision to terminate the employment of Iranian scholar Helyeh Doutaghi, who served as an associate research scholar and deputy director of the esteemed Law and Political Economy Project. The school accuses Doutaghi of being uncooperative while it investigated serious allegations regarding her possible associations with a group deemed a “sham charity” by the United States, connected to a designated terrorist organization.

Doutaghi, 30, who is known for her outspoken criticism of Israel, has vehemently denied these accusations. She contends that her termination, which officially took place on March 28, was not due to a lack of cooperation but rather a direct consequence of her vocal stance against the ongoing conflict in Gaza. She argues that recent pressures on American universities, particularly from the Trump administration, to take a hardline stance against antisemitism may have played a significant role in her dismissal.

In a statement released by Yale, the institution clarified that Doutaghi had refused to appear in person for several weeks to respond to inquiries regarding “serious allegations” tied to her alleged connection with the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. This organization was designated in October by both the United States and Canada as a “sham charity,” purportedly functioning as an international fundraising arm for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a group classified as a terrorist organization.

Yale referenced a posting on Samidoun’s official website, which they claim identified Doutaghi as a member of the organization, as part of the materials under review during their investigation. However, Doutaghi maintains that this post dates back to 2022, prior to Samidoun being designated as a terrorist-supporting group, and she insists that Yale has failed to provide any concrete evidence linking her to such an organization.

Adding to the complexity of her situation, another webpage purportedly listed Doutaghi as a panelist for an online discussion scheduled for October 2024, organized by Samidoun and several other groups. Doutaghi clarified that she did not participate in this event as it was either canceled or postponed, emphasizing that Samidoun was not the primary organizer of the discussion in question.

When approached by The Associated Press for clarification regarding her alleged affiliation with Samidoun, Doutaghi stated that she is not involved in any group that contravenes U.S. law. She, along with her attorney, Eric Lee, expressed their willingness to respond to Yale's inquiries in writing. However, Doutaghi cited fears of detention and deportation as significant reasons for her reluctance to appear before Yale officials in person.

In a stark commentary on the implications of her firing, Doutaghi remarked, “This has become part of the fascism that is unfolding in this country. Individuals who dare to voice opposition against genocide and the U.S.'s complicity in it must be prepared to face dire consequences—losing their careers, livelihoods, and even academic credentials.” Her remarks echo growing concerns in academia, particularly regarding pro-Palestinian students at institutions like Columbia and Cornell, who have reportedly faced similar threats of deportation.