Yale Law School Suspends Scholar Over Alleged Ties to Palestinian Terrorist Group

By: Fern Sidman

A sharp controversy has erupted at Yale Law School following the abrupt suspension and campus ban of Dr. Helyeh Doutaghi, a scholar in international law who had served as the deputy director of the Law and Political Economy Project. The move—described by some as a chilling reflection of the precarious state of academic freedom amid intensifying political pressures—has ignited debate over free speech, pro-Palestinian advocacy, and the sweeping reach of federal oversight in higher education.

According to a report that appeared on Wednesday in The New York Times, Dr. Doutaghi was placed on administrative leave last week, instructed not to advertise her affiliation with Yale, and barred from entering the New Haven campus. This came after allegations surfaced tying her to entities subject to U.S. sanctions, a reference believed to be aimed at Samidoun, a controversial pro-Palestinian advocacy group designated last year by the U.S. Treasury Department as a “sham charity” accused of funneling support to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)—a group classified by the U.S. as a terrorist organization.

Dr. Doutaghi, 30, had joined Yale in 2023 as a rising figure in legal academia and a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights. The NYT reported that her scholarship and public activism had aligned with the mission of the Law and Political Economy Project, which promotes economic, racial, and gender equality through critical legal and policy analysis. Her presence within the program was viewed by many as emblematic of its progressive agenda.

However, the situation took a dramatic turn when a story emerged from a news outlet that uses artificial intelligence to generate content, alleging that Dr. Doutaghi was a member of a terrorist organization. The article cited public records showing her participation in events sponsored by Samidoun, though no evidence has been publicly produced indicating direct organizational affiliation.

In response, Dr. Doutaghi has categorically denied any violation of U.S. law. In comments quoted by The NYT, she identified herself as a “loud and proud supporter of Palestinian rights,” asserting, “I am a scholar… I am not a member of any organization that would constitute a violation of U.S. law.”

Her legal counsel also strongly disputed the accusations, stating that appearing on panels or participating in events hosted by advocacy groups does not constitute organizational membership or illegal conduct under U.S. statutes. The controversy, however, has placed Yale under scrutiny, forcing it to respond swiftly amid escalating federal pressure on American universities.

In a statement provided to The NYT, Alden Ferro, a spokesperson for Yale Law School, described the matter as potentially involving “unlawful conduct”, while emphasizing that disciplinary action is “never initiated based on a person’s protected speech.” The university confirmed it had launched an internal investigation into the allegations against Dr. Doutaghi, signaling that the inquiry remains in early stages.

The timing of the university’s decision coincides with heightened scrutiny from the Trump administration, which has made higher education institutions a focal point of its broader political campaign. As The NYT reported, Columbia University recently lost $400 million in federal funding after being listed among schools accused of tolerating anti-Semitism. On Monday, the administration announced that Yale was among 60 institutions that could face similar funding cuts if ongoing investigations reveal failure to address anti-Semitic activity on campus.

In her interview with The NYT, Dr. Doutaghi framed her suspension as part of a broader pattern of repression targeting scholars who express solidarity with Palestinians or challenge prevailing political narratives. “This is the type of thing that happens under fascist dictatorships,” she said, asserting that Donald Trump is seeking to build such a regime in the United States.

The controversy surrounding Dr. Doutaghi raises deeply consequential questions: Can participation in pro-Palestinian activism be mischaracterized as affiliation with terrorism? How far should universities go in policing associations in response to federal scrutiny? And what implications does this have for the future of academic freedom in politically charged environments?

As reported by The NYT, the controversy centers not only on allegations regarding Dr. Doutaghi’s supposed affiliations with sanctioned entities, but also on the role of a little-known, AI-powered news platform known as Jewish Onliner, in triggering the university’s disciplinary action.

The original allegations that prompted Yale’s decision were based on a March 2 article published by Jewish Onliner, a news site that openly describes itself as “empowered by A.I. capabilities.” As per the information in The NYT report, the platform, which operates both a website and a Substack newsletter, does not list any reporters by name. When contacted for comment by The NYT, the site responded through “JO,” an entity it identified as an AI assistant developed by Jewish Onliner.

Subsequent email correspondence from the site clarified that while it uses artificial intelligence for research, fact-checking, and content generation, the final editorial decisions are made by human staff. As was indicated in The NYT report, the individuals behind Jewish Onliner, however, have chosen to remain anonymous, citing concerns over “professional repercussions, doxxing, etc.” This lack of transparency has raised serious questions about the credibility and accountability of such AI-assisted news operations, especially when they publish content with far-reaching consequences.

Critics of the site’s reporting include Eric Lee, the attorney representing Dr. Doutaghi, who questioned the accuracy and reliability of Jewish Onliner’s allegations in formal correspondence with Yale, according to The NYT report. His concerns echo broader skepticism voiced in recent months about the rise of AI-driven journalism platforms—particularly those that focus on politically sensitive issues.

In January, Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, raised alarms about the integrity of AI-powered platforms that appeared to be working to amplify pro-Israel messaging online, warning that such sites may blur the line between advocacy and journalism.

Yale’s decision to place Dr. Doutaghi on administrative leave was formalized in a letter dated March 5, signed by Joseph M. Crosby, Senior Associate Dean at Yale Law School. As reviewed by The NYT, the letter stated: “As you are aware, the university is reviewing serious allegations regarding your activities with various entities that are subject to U.S. sanctions.”

Jewish Onliner alleged that Dr. Doutaghi was involved with Samidoun by referencing her appearances at events hosted or sponsored by the group.

The suspension comes at a time of escalating political scrutiny on elite American universities. As noted in The NYT report, Yale is one of 60 institutions now under federal investigation for allegedly permitting anti-Semitic behavior on campus—a move spearheaded by the Trump administration, which has made higher education a battleground in its campaign to curtail ideological bias and institutional tolerance of extremism.

Dr. Doutaghi, an Iranian and a Muslim, joined Yale’s Law and Political Economy Project in October 2023, just a week before the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. According to the information in The NYT report, she was hired fully aware of her long-standing public views on Palestinian rights. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. from Carleton University in Ottawa, where her dissertation examined the effects of U.S. and EU sanctions on Iran—a subject that may have further attracted scrutiny in the current geopolitical climate.