イスラム教徒学生の卒業スピーチ中止に 親イスラエル団体抗議受け、米大学

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】米国の南カリフォルニア大学（ＵＳＣ）が、イスラム教徒の学生による卒業スピーチを、安全上の懸念を理由に中止した。卒業スピーチをする学生の選定をめぐり、大学は親イスラエル団体から抗議を受けていた。（写真は米カリフォルニア州ロサンゼルスにある南カリフォルニア大学）
　米国ではイスラエルとパレスチナのイスラム組織ハマスによる紛争が昨年１０月に勃発して以降、これに絡む政治問題が高等教育の場をも揺るがしている。
　ＵＳＣの卒業生総代は、志願する数多くの成績優秀者の中から大学当局によって選ばれ、卒業式で最大６万５０００人を前にスピーチする。
　今年の卒業生総代に選ばれていたアスナ・タバスムさんは、ネット上で「反ユダヤ主義的、反シオニスト的な発言」をしたとして攻撃されていた。
　同大のアンドリュー・グスマン総長は１５日、「遺憾なことにここ数日、総代選出に関する議論が憂慮すべき色合いを帯びてきた」と述べ、５月１０日に行われる卒業式をスピーチなしで行うと発表した。
　さらに「ソーシャルメディアと中東の紛争に激しくあおられた感情は、ＵＳＣ外の多くの人々の声をも巻き込み、安全に関わる重大リスクを懸念せざるを得ないほどの高まりを見せている」と述べた。
　現地紙ロサンゼルス・タイムズは、同大の安全・リスク管理を担当するエロール・サザーズ上級副学長の談話を引用し、大学側は電子メール、電話、手紙による脅迫を受けていると伝えた。
　大学の決定についてタバスムさんは、「私の声を封じ込めるためのヘイトキャンペーンに屈した結果」だと批判。「反イスラム、反パレスチナの声は、万人の人権に対する揺るぎない信念を持つ私を人種差別的な憎悪のキャンペーンにさらした」と声明で非難した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/04/17-18:20）

A top US university has canceled its plans for a graduation speech by a Muslim student over what it says are safety concerns, after pro-Israel groups criticized her selection.
The decision by the University of Southern California is the latest controversy to roil American higher education since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted in October.
Asna Tabassum, who has been attacked online for antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric, had been selected as class valedictorian.
USC's valedictorian is chosen by college officials from among scores of applicants with high academic grades.
They represent the graduating class and deliver a speech at graduation in front of up to 65,000 people.
But on Monday the university's provost, Andrew Guzman, announced the May 10 ceremony would go ahead without the speech.
Unfortunately, over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor, Guzman said in a statement.
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 USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security.
Guzman's statement gave no specifics, but the Los Angeles Times quoted Erroll Southers, the university's associate senior vice president for safety and risk assurance, as saying the institution had received threats by email, phone and letter.
Individuals say they will come to the campus, he said.
Tabassum criticized the decision, which she said was the result of the university succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice.
Although this should have been a time of celebration for my family, friends, professors and classmates, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all, she said in a statement.
The Hamas attack that started the war on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,843 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
The fallout from the conflict has been felt around the world, and is particularly intense on US college campuses, where both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups say they are being victimized and silenced.
On Wednesday the president of the prestigious Columbia University in New York will become the latest campus leader to face questions from US lawmakers about whether her institution is doing enough to combat anti-Semitism in the student body.