Indian-origin PhD scholar Prahlad Iyengar has been suspended from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for writing a pro-Palestine essay.
The essay, titled “On Pacifism”, was published in the October issue of the student magazine Written Revolution. MIT claimed the essay included content that could be “interpreted” as promoting violent protests.
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Iyengar’s suspension will last until January 2026. This effectively ends his academic career, as he will lose his National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
MIT also banned the student magazine from its campus. The move has drawn sharp criticism from free speech advocates.
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The institute claimed the essay contained posters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), labeled a terrorist organization in the U.S. They also cited “troubling statements” about anti-colonial movements.
Iyengar, however, defended his essay, saying it was a legitimate discussion on the history of protests. Supporters argue that MIT’s actions are disproportionate.
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The MIT Coalition Against Apartheid called the suspension “an attack on free speech.” They noted similar cases in the past were met with only warnings, not suspensions.
“This is silencing voices that oppose war and genocide,” the group stated.
Iyengar also condemned the suspension. He described it as an “unprecedented attack” on student rights and academic freedom.
He claimed universities across the U.S. are suppressing voices that oppose violence in Gaza. He urged the MIT community to stand against censorship.
As Iyengar appeals the decision, his case highlights growing concerns about how pro-Palestine voices are treated in academic spaces. Many see it as part of a broader effort to silence opposition to war.
