‘Authorization for this event was initially obtained through the withholding of key information,’ a UTS spokeswoman said
Union Theological Seminary, a Columbia University affiliate, said an event featuring Mohamed Abdou—a self-described “activist-scholar” who was banned from teaching at Columbia—could not proceed on its premises in the wake of a Washington Free Beacon report on that event.
“Authorization for this event was initially obtained through the withholding of key information,” a spokeswoman for seminary, Afsheen Shamsi, told the Free Beacon. “Upon becoming aware of the unacceptable imagery and rhetoric used to promote the event and its ties to violence, President Jones revoked approval for what was to have been an Iftar (evening meal to break Ramadan fast) and made it clear to students that Union does not support violence or hate speech.”
The Wednesday event, titled “Death to the Akademy: How To Be a Thorn in Their Throat Amidst Snakes in the Grass,” was set to focus on “decolonial organizing lessons from Gaza’s warrior mujahideen.”
After it was moved off-campus, one of the organizers, Queer Muslims of NYC, condemned the move in a post on Instagram. It also quoted an unnamed Union Theological Seminary official who told the group, “we support your offer to host the iftar at an off-site location.”
“I wish you a successful event and hope we can remain partners in better communication for future events you wish to hold on campus,” the official allegedly added.
Shamsi did not answer questions about the post.
Abdou still appeared for a virtual talk hosted by Queer Muslims of NYC.
“Let us engage in jihad, and there are rules for jihad, and Muslims know that Allah has commanded rules,” he said. “We don’t engage in wanton violence, but we don’t accept the negative peace either.”
🚨 UTS Pushed ‘Death to the Akademy” Online. Former Columbia Professor Muhammad Abdou Used the Event to Call for Jihad and Praise Elias Rodriguez
Union Theological Seminary, a Columbia affiliate, canceled the in-person portion of ‘Death to the Akademy” at the eleventh hour, with… pic.twitter.com/sIz9lf2bc3
— Stu Smith (@thestustustudio) March 12, 2026
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Abdou also said “God bless” Elias Rodriguez, who is accused of murdering two Israeli embassy staffers. “America needs to be destroyed,” he added.
Abdou and Queer Muslims of NYC did not respond to requests for comment. A Columbia spokesman said the university is independent from Union Theological Seminary and that it finds the imagery used to promote the event, which included a Hamas symbol, “abhorrent.”