By: Noam Titansky

A former Columbia University professor is facing backlash after delivering a fiery, controversial message to New York University students during a talk tied to a broader international campus tour, as the NY Post reported.

Dr. Mohamed Abdou—an Egypt-born academic who previously taught at Columbia—told a small group of NYU students to embrace anti-American sentiment during a Zoom event linked to an off-campus gathering near Washington Square Park. As the NY Post reported, Abdou urged attendees to be “proud” of their hatred for the United States and framed that stance as part of a broader ideological struggle.

The event was organized by the activist group Shut It Down NYU, which is not officially recognized by the university. According to the NY Post, the gathering included both in-person participants and roughly 30 virtual attendees.

Abdou’s remarks were part of a wider speaking circuit he has dubbed the “Death to the Akademy” tour. As the NY Post reported, the tour promotes rejecting Western institutions and ideologies, encouraging students to adopt more radical forms of activism.

During the talk, Abdou praised Islamist fighters and suggested that students should see themselves as part of a larger resistance movement. He also referenced the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, telling listeners there were “lessons” to be learned from the massacre, according to the NY Post.

At multiple points, the rhetoric escalated further. As the NY Post reported, Abdou spoke about martyrdom and suggested that participants should not fear death, framing such ideas as part of a broader ideological commitment.

The former professor had already drawn scrutiny prior to the event. He was previously removed from his role at Columbia University after publicly expressing support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad following the October 7 attacks, the NY Post reported.

University officials moved quickly to distance themselves from the NYU-related event. According to the NY Post, NYU said the gathering was not sanctioned, not held on campus, and not affiliated with any official university group.

A university spokesperson said organizers falsely presented the talk as connected to NYU and warned that other institutions should be aware of similar tactics. As the NY Post reported, the school also condemned the language used during the event, particularly statements that appeared to encourage violence.

Promotional materials for the talk added to the controversy. The NY Post reported that flyers circulating online included militant imagery, such as symbols associated with Palestinian resistance movements and illustrations of armed fighters.

The group behind the event, Shut It Down NYU, has ties to a broader activist network that has previously supported more aggressive forms of protest. According to the NY Post, affiliated organizations have in the past called for “armed struggle” during demonstrations.

The incident also comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions at NYU.