A lawsuit brought by members of the University of Pennsylvania organization Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine was dismissed by the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania earlier next week.
Judge Mitchell Goldberg ruled against the lawsuit “due to absence of standing.”
Filed by professors Huda Fakhreddine ( Arabic literature ) and Eve Troutt Powell ( Africana studies ) “in conjunction” with PFJP, the suit accused Penn of” stifling speech critical of Israel”, The Daily Pennsylvanian reports.
The pro-Palestinian professors claimed that the U.S. House of Representatives ‘ request for Penn documents related to its campus antisemitism investigation was a” threat” to their academic freedom.
Additionally, Goldberg ruled against the academics ‘ ask for a preliminary injunction against the surrender of the documents, claiming that they “failed to clearly specify what data Penn may disclose and how it would hurt them.”
” The fact that Defendants were harassed when is never enough”, Goldberg said. ” Defendants need to demonstrate that Penn’s files may lead to that abuse”.
Penn University for Justice in Palestine was given two days to file an amended complaint by the judge, but the defendants were only allowed to do so if they” you, in good trust, allege facts to support standing.”
In a statement, PFJP said Goldberg was “mistaken” and that it planned to charm.
” It is egregious that Penn is turning over instructors letters, syllabi, disciplinary event information, and other documents as part of this false, proper- aircraft, Congressional monster hunt”, PFJP said. ” Harm has been done and is continuing to be done.” Our school should support the rights of students, faculty, and academic vision, as well as protect its faculty and students.
Last month after law enforcement dismantled the pro- Hamas encampment at Penn, Professor Fakhreddine , ( pictured ) alleged , police had “brutalized” students and claimed the incident was akin to Israel “invading” her Lebanese village during her childhood.
Additionally, Fakhreddine claimed that a “matter of life and death” was being raised by a Modern Language Association “emergency action” calling for the “protection of school instructors who condemn Israel.”
MORE: “die-in” Penn university “blocks” building access to the Gaza Strip in solidarity with the civilians”
IMAGES: Ulf Wittrock/Shutterstock .com, U. Pennsylvania
Follow The College Fix on Twitter and Like us on Instagram.