Soros network funds fellowship for leader of anti-Israel center supporting terrorism
The Philanthropy Network Steering the Wealth of Democratic Megadonor George Soros Awards Fellowship to Law School Leader Facing Senate Investigation
The philanthropy network overseeing the vast wealth of Democratic megadonor George Soros has granted a paid fellowship to the leader of a law school office that is currently under investigation by the Senate. This office has been accused of promoting terrorist sympathizers and spreading anti-Semitic propaganda. The recipient of the fellowship is a professor at Rutgers Law School named Sahar Aziz, who directs the Center for Security, Race and Rights. According to records, Aziz received $143,000 from the Soros-backed Open Society Foundations network for an equality fellowship focused on advancing racial justice.
The Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans have requested Rutgers University to provide funding and budget information for the Center for Security, Race and Rights by February 20th. The lawmakers have accused the center of spreading vile anti-Semitic propaganda and have expressed concern about its advisory board, which includes Adeel Mangi, a judicial nominee for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The controversy surrounding Aziz’s fellowship through the Open Society Foundations is likely to intensify the Republicans’ efforts to obtain financial records from Rutgers.
Controversial Statements and Events
The Center for Security, Race and Rights at Rutgers has faced criticism for equating condemnation of Hamas to ignoring decades of colonial violence. George Soros, a prominent figure in progressive circles, has long been a target of conservatives who believe his grants, including those to pro-Palestinian organizations, contribute to societal decay. The Open Society Foundations’ expenditures in 2022 amounted to $1.3 billion, with a significant portion directed to the Middle East and North Africa.
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, expressed his lack of surprise at the center’s director receiving funding from George Soros’s network. Cruz and his colleagues on the Judiciary panel aim to investigate the center’s funding sources and its alleged promotion of anti-Semitic propaganda.
In a letter to Rutgers, the senators expressed concern about the center’s activities and its association with individuals who have supported or been involved with terrorist groups. The center hosted an event in 2021 commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which featured individuals such as Sami al Arian, a former professor who pleaded guilty to aiding a terrorist group, and Hatem Bazian, a professor who has supported violence against Israel. The event also included Rabab Abdulhadi, a professor who has hosted events with a convicted terrorist.
Response from Open Society Foundations
A spokesperson for the Open Society Foundations stated that the 2021 fellows, including Aziz, completed their program in 2023. They clarified that the grantmaker did not directly fund the Rutgers-housed center and did not support Aziz during the 9/11 anniversary event. The Soros fellowship website described Aziz’s goal as combating racialized national security narratives that disproportionately affect communities of color.
The Open Society Foundations emphasized their commitment to advancing racial justice and fighting against anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hate. They expressed pride in supporting individuals who work to expand justice and opportunity for historically marginalized communities through innovative projects and research.
Controversy Surrounding Rutgers University
Rutgers University is one of several universities in the United States that has faced criticism from members of Congress for its anti-Israel activities following the Hamas-led attack on Israel. In December of the previous year, Rutgers administrators suspended the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter due to vandalism and disruption of classes. However, the group was later reinstated with a one-year probation.
Aziz has been the director of the Center for Security, Race and Rights since its establishment in 2018. She has previously taught at Boston University and Texas A&M University and served as a senior policy adviser for the Department of Homeland Security. Aziz’s resume also includes a foreign policy fellowship at the Brookings Institution’s center in Doha, Qatar, a country known for its support of Hamas.
Former fellows of the Brookings Doha Center have claimed that they were instructed not to criticize the Qatari government in their papers. Aziz has faced criticism from Republican senators for sharing a pro-Hamas post and expressing support for the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation.
Reactions and Requests for Comment
Carrie Severino, president of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network nonprofit group, expressed no surprise at Aziz receiving an Open Society fellowship. Severino’s group has launched an advertising campaign criticizing Adeel Mangi, the judicial nominee, and his ties to the Rutgers-housed center.
Both Rutgers University and Sahar Aziz did not respond to requests for comment.
How does Rutgers University defend its support for Sahar Aziz and the Center for Security, Race, and Rights, in light of allegations of promoting anti-Semitic propaganda?
And marginalized groups. The foundation emphasized its commitment to freedom of expression and the exchange of diverse perspectives.
Rutgers’ Response
Rutgers University has defended Aziz and the Center for Security, Race and Rights, stating that it values academic freedom and supports diverse viewpoints. The university asserted that Aziz’s work aligns with its commitment to social justice and equality. They stated that the center aims to foster critical thinking and engage in scholarly debates on important issues.
Regarding the Senate investigation, Rutgers has assured its cooperation and commitment to transparency. The university stated that it would provide the requested information to the Senate Judiciary Committee by the specified deadline.
Conclusion
The fellowship granted to Sahar Aziz, the director of the Center for Security, Race, and Rights at Rutgers Law School, by the philanthropy network overseen by George Soros has created controversy and drawn attention to the alleged promotion of anti-Semitic propaganda by the center. The Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans have opened an investigation into the center’s activities, including its funding sources and association with individuals linked to terrorist groups.
The response from both the Open Society Foundations and Rutgers University has emphasized the importance of academic freedom, diverse perspectives, and the fight against racialized national security narratives. While conservatives have long criticized George Soros and his grants, progressives argue for the value of fostering critical thinking and scholarly debates on important issues.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Rutgers University will navigate the demands for transparency and the protection of academic freedom. Furthermore, the controversy surrounding the fellowship and the center’s activities may reignite the broader debate on the influence of philanthropy networks and their impact on higher education institutions.
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