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Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | April 26, 2025 — The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), alongside our coalition partners and concerned members of the public, calls on the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to immediately dismiss the baseless charges against Ibrahim I. Bharmal and Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, students at Harvard Law School and Harvard Divinity School, before their hearing on Monday, April 28, 2025.
We, a coalition of civil rights organizations, advocacy groups, and student organizations, demand the immediate dismissal of these unfounded charges, which stem from their roles as safety marshal and organizer, respectively, during a peaceful pro-Palestinian protest at Harvard Business School in October 2023. These charges are not only baseless but represent a profound violation of the principles of justice, free speech, and democracy.
Bharmal and Tettey-Tamaklo have been targeted solely for serving as safety marshals during a nonviolent protest aimed at raising awareness about human rights abuses against the Palestinian people. Their actions—peaceful, orderly, and intended to protect the safety and First Amendment rights of all demonstrators—were well within the bounds of lawful conduct. Video footage and multiple eyewitness testimonies unequivocally demonstrate that Ibrahim and Elom acted to safeguard fellow protesters and prevent harm, not to provoke or engage in violence.
We are deeply alarmed by the decision of District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office to selectively prosecute two students of color. This discriminatory action appears to be a clear attempt to criminalize peaceful protest and silence dissent, particularly from marginalized communities. The consequences of these prosecutions extend far beyond Ibrahim and Elom, posing a chilling threat to democratic values and the constitutional rights of all Americans.
We condemn, in the strongest terms, the racial, religious, and homophobic profiling that has tainted this case from the beginning. It is a grave injustice that two upstanding young leaders, committed to human rights and the defense of marginalized voices, are being punished for their courage and integrity. District Attorney Kevin Hayden must act swiftly and justly to dismiss all charges against Ibrahim and Elom. Failure to do so will not only perpetuate a gross injustice but also send a dangerous message that students who dare to speak out for justice will be criminalized and silenced.
Let us be clear: we will not stand by as our educational institutions become battlegrounds where civil liberties are trampled through targeted, discriminatory prosecutions. This case is not an isolated incident—it is part of a broader, alarming trend of attacks on American Muslim, African-American, and pro-Palestinian students nationwide. We remain steadfast in our commitment to defend the rights of students like Ibrahim and Elom and to uphold the civil liberties of all.
We call upon the public, the media, and all stakeholders to recognize the urgency of this moment. Join us in demanding that the District Attorney’s Office immediately drop all charges before the April 28th hearing. Justice must prevail—for Ibrahim, for Elom, and for every student who stands up for what is right in the face of oppression.
We encourage members of the public to email the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office ([link removed]) and demand the dismissal of all charges before Monday’s hearing. Now is the time to stand up and be heard.
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