Last week, Yale University fired Helyeh Doutaghi, from her position as the Deputy Director of the LPE Project. Yale was Helyeh’s employer (and is mine). I was not privy to their negotiations. Her termination was not my decision, and I opposed it. I have known Helyeh as a principled and proud young scholar, far from home. She faced death threats and harassment from online mobs. I ask you to imagine the last few weeks from her perspective. They must have been hell. The US government is acting to aggressively detain people for their speech. Yale is a powerful employer that is itself facing lawless attacks from the government. I had hoped to respond sooner, saying more, with others in our community, particularly given the likelihood that similar attacks will be launched elsewhere. That process is taking more time than expected, because this subject is complex, we must anticipate the different ways this may be repeated, and because many in our community right now are working around the clock to respond to the pressure on campuses and from our government. We are doing everything we can to respond in a manner that lives up to our values and protects the many vulnerable people who are today at extraordinary risk.
For a further response, see A Call To Defend Free Speech From Weaponized Allegations of Terrorism Ties.
