Houthis and Iranian university welcome expelled US students to join ranks

Protests across U.S. college campuses have captured the attention of many, including universities in Iran and Yemen. Now, those universities are reaching out to students and professors who may have been expelled over their activism.

“Students and even professors who have been expelled or threatened with expulsion can continue their studies in Shiraz University and I think that other universities in Shiraz and Fars province are prepared to do the same,” Iran’s Shiraz University President Mohammad Moreno said on Wednesday, May 1.

Houthi-ran Sanaa University in Yemen said the students could continue their education there, too. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia, which has disrupted global shipping with attacks in support of Palestinians, welcome expelled students to join them as well.

In another show of support for college protesters, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip expressed gratitude, with demonstrators putting up thank-you notes directed at several American universities.

“It is wonderful,” said Abu Yusuf Al-Habeel, a displaced Palestinian. “We thank all the students at American universities who stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their cause.”

While some have commended the protesters’ efforts, Gilan Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations went the other way during a speech on Wednesday at the U.N. General Assembly.

Erdan characterized college protests against the war in Gaza as “the murderous cries of the pro-Palestinian mobs.” He also described the protests as “Nazi-like behavior.” In addition, he accused the U.N. of spreading “anti-Israel vitriol” and said the organization’s “days were numbered.”