Queens College in Flushing, N.Y., has condemned the conspiratorial, bigoted and sexist beliefs of a lecturer brought in by the campus chapter of the Muslim Students Association, albeit after the fact.
Daniel Haqiqatjou, the founder and editor-in-chief of Muslim Skeptic, spoke on Feb. 29 at Queens College for an event titled “Analyzing the Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Multifaceted Examination.”
Haqiqatjou has claimed that Israel created ISIS and was involved in the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States. Articles he wrote include “The Extreme Anti-Black Racism of Judaism,” and “Judaism’s Punishment for Homosexuality: Being Thrown Off Buildings.”
Echoing ideas promoted by other Islamist thinkers, such as Jonathan A.C. Brown and Abdul Nasir Jangda, Haqiqatjou defends sexual violence.
He wrote that “there is no rape if the husband or wife touches a spouse sexually, as this is their right (by virtue of marriage) regardless of consent (on the part of the touched spouse).” In this vein, Haqiqatjou also defends sexual slavery, writing that “there is no rape if a master sexually touches his female slave, as the master has a right to do this (by virtue of ownership).”
Frank H. Wu, president of Queens College president, said in a statement provided to JNS: “This particular speaker has a history of expressing views that are antithetical to the values we espouse at Queens College, and that I personally regard as abhorrent. To be clear, we strongly condemn bigotry, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, in all of its ugly forms. We will not hesitate to condemn it.”
Still, the school stopped short of canceling the event with Wu stating that “one of our most important values is our support of the right to free speech and the importance of student opportunities to hear different viewpoints. Adherence to the right of free speech permits registered student organizations to invite speakers so long as they follow appropriate college procedures.”
The Muslim Students Association was founded in 1963 by members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
