Yale Law School recently made headlines by dismissing an Iranian scholar over allegations of non-cooperation in an investigation linking her to a group classified as a “sham charity” for a terrorist organization by the U.S. However, the scholar, Helyeh Doutaghi, vocally denies the charges, citing her critical stance on the conflict in Gaza as the actual reason behind her firing. Doutaghi, who held a visa position as an associate research scholar and deputy director of Yale’s Law and Political Economy Project, argues that academic institutions, including Yale, face rising pressure to suppress what the Trump administration considers anti-Semitism.
Yale stated that Doutaghi, aged 30, faced dismissal on March 28 after failing for several weeks to respond to in-person questioning over “severe allegations.” The inquiry sought to understand her potential connections to the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, a group labeled in October by the U.S. and Canada as a “sham charity” that allegedly functions as an international financial arm for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization.
The university pointed to Samidoun’s website, which seemingly identified Doutaghi as one of its members, prompting them to review the material. Samidoun had not responded to communications seeking their comments on the matter.
Doutaghi counters that the referenced post is from the year 2022, before Samidoun was designated as supporting terrorism, and asserts that Yale has furnished no evidence connecting her with the organization. Additionally, another site mentioned her as a speaker in an online panel in October 2024, sponsored by Samidoun and other entities. Doutaghi clarifies that she did not participate in this event, which was ultimately canceled or postponed, noting that Samidoun was not the primary organizer.
In response to inquiries about her ties to Samidoun or membership, Doutaghi maintained that she is not associated with any group that contravenes U.S. law. Her defense team, led by attorney Eric Lee, indicated that they offered written responses to Yale’s queries regarding her affiliations out of concern for potential detention and deportation.
Doutaghi expressed that her situation is symptomatic of a broader issue, linking it to what she perceives as a growing trend of fascism in the country. She suggested that individuals vocally opposing genocidal acts, along with U.S. support and complicity therein, might face professional repercussions. Citing incidents at other universities like Columbia and Cornell, she underscored the risks faced by pro-Palestinian students and others who speak out, potentially jeopardizing their careers, jobs, and academic futures.