Emory Medical School faces controversy as Umaymah Mohammad, an MD/PhD student, receives backlash for justifying the 10/7 massacre in an email distributed via the school’s ListServ.

Who is Umaymah Mohammad?

Emory University School of Medicine finds itself entangled in a heated debate after Umaymah Mohammad, an MD/PhD student, used the institution’s ListServ to disseminate an email justifying the 10/7 massacre in Israel. Mohammad’s message accused Emory students and staff of complicity in the alleged genocide of Palestinians.

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In the email sent on January 17, 2024, Mohammad claimed that over 30,000 Palestinians, including 10,000 children, were murdered by Israel since October 7, 2023, and accused the U.S., Emory, and its School of Medicine of being complicit through silence and financial support.

The controversial email prompted calls for Mohammad’s suspension or expulsion, with many expressing outrage at what they deemed as an inappropriate use of the school’s communication channels. However, Emory University has yet to take decisive action against Mohammad.

In response to the controversy, Emory School of Medicine’s Interim Dean, Carlos del Rio, addressed the issue in a letter to students. Del Rio acknowledged the impact of Mohammad’s message, describing it as unprofessional and inappropriate for official communication channels. He announced that messages sent to student listservs would now be reviewed and approved before distribution.

While emphasizing the importance of respectful dialogue, Del Rio stated that using educational listservs for such communications was unacceptable. He called on the Emory community to focus on healing and growth during these challenging times.

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The incident has sparked debates on freedom of expression within educational institutions and raises questions about how universities should handle controversial statements made by students. Emory Medical School now faces the delicate task of balancing the principles of free speech with the responsibility to maintain a respectful and inclusive academic environment.