About 150 University of Michigan students and Ann Arbor community members gathered on the Diag Saturday afternoon to hear a talk from Imran Salha, the imam of the Islamic Center of Detroit. The event was hosted by the TAHRIR Coalition as part of the day’s programming at the Gaza solidarity encampment, which is now in its sixth day. Attendees sat on prayer mats and grass east of the encampment.
Salha, an imam, or an Islamic prayer leader, is known for his pro-Palestinian advocacy since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, in which more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Salha began his remarks by commending those participating in or supporting the encampment and said he appreciates the advocacy efforts from such a wide variety of people across campus.
“I would be lying if I said that this effort was an effort that rests upon the shoulders of Muslims only or Christians only or any individual demographic or any ethnicity,” Salha said. “I am grateful to every single individual who takes it upon themselves to carry the banner of justice and to uplift the causes of truth.”
Salha highlighted the importance of similar student-led movements throughout history. He said protestors should not be discouraged by the resistance they are facing for their activism.
“It may take a long time,” Salha said. “Sometimes when you speak the word of truth, it is inconvenient and falls on deaf ears, but history has a way of making sure that the equations of the Earth and the geopolitical realities of the Earth move in accordance with the word.”
Salha said the students’ activism was invaluable, even if they felt disappointed in the response from the University.
“You are not insignificant,” Salha said. “Your voice matters. Your voice is necessary. It is a shame that when the students utilize the power of the pen, the power of ink and the power of their voices to speak on behalf of those who are being murdered, the presidents of the educational institutions that taught those students to read and research want to suppress their voices.”
Salha echoed student protestors’ calls for University President Santa Ono and the University administration to divest from companies that have financial ties to Israel. The TAHRIR Coalition has organized various protests and demonstrations over the past six months urging the University to divest, including at the 101st Annual Honors Convocation.
“What is your role (as) president of this educational institution?” Salha asked. “Is it for you to monitor the investment fund of your institution to ensure that it becomes more lucrative, or is it to ensure the expansion of the mind and the expansion of the reach of the word of truth?”
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, LSA junior Malak Elayyan said the speech reinforced her confidence in the activism taking place across campus.
“His talk was a great reminder that everything we do does have a purpose,” Elayyan said. “Sometimes you lose sight of the impact that we can have as students, especially since a lot of the time, the responses we get (from the University administration) aren’t what we want.”
In an interview with The Daily, second-year Nursing master’s student Miriam Hamad said she was encouraged by the outpouring of diverse support from the Ann Arbor community.
“I remember, growing up, I would go to protest with my parents,” Hamad said. “But I’ve never seen this many people from different cultures, different religions and different walks of life coming together for this cause. It’s heartwarming to see the solidarity.”
Elayyan said pro-Palestinian activism can take various forms, and that Salha’s speech inspired her to get more involved.
“Whether that be with donations, whether that be protests, whether that be talking to people in power, or educating myself and educating others, it is my duty not just as a student or as a Palestinian myself, but as a human to get involved,” Elayyan said. “Being human means fighting for justice.”
Daily Staff Reporter Edith Pendell can be reached at ependell@umich.edu.