New York University (NYU) has withheld the diploma of a student who used her graduation speech to speak out against the war in Gaza, according to university officials.
Yasmeen Mashayekh, a student at NYU’s School of Law, delivered a commencement address earlier this month in which she criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza and expressed support for Palestinian rights. Following the speech, which sparked strong reactions on social media and among attendees, the university chose not to issue her diploma as scheduled.
An NYU spokesperson confirmed the decision, saying the university is reviewing the matter in light of complaints that the speech violated commencement guidelines. “Graduation ceremonies are meant to celebrate the achievements of all students,” the spokesperson said. “We are looking into whether the speaker’s comments were appropriate for the occasion.”
Mashayekh, who was selected to speak as a representative of her class, reportedly made several references to the suffering of Palestinians and accused U.S. institutions, including NYU, of complicity in the conflict. Her remarks drew applause from some audience members but also prompted walkouts and criticism from others who said the speech politicized a moment meant to be inclusive.
In a statement shared on social media, Mashayekh defended her comments, saying, “I will not be silent about genocide or the suffering of my people. Speaking out for human rights should never be grounds for academic punishment.”
Civil rights groups and free speech advocates have since weighed in, with some accusing NYU of censoring political expression. “Universities should be places where difficult conversations can happen — not places where students are punished for expressing their views,” said a representative from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).
Meanwhile, others have defended the university’s response, arguing that commencement speeches should focus on unifying messages rather than divisive political commentary.
As of now, NYU has not said when or if Mashayekh will receive her diploma. The incident has fueled ongoing debate about free speech, academic freedom, and the role of political discourse on college campuses.
NYU Withholds Diploma of Student Who Spoke Out Against Gaza War During Graduation Speech
New York University announced it is withholding the diploma of a student who spoke out against what he called “genocide” in Gaza during his graduation speech — a move the university says stems from the student’s failure to adhere to agreed-upon rules for the event.
The university condemned Rozos’ remarks, saying his comments were a breach of the agreement students make to follow institutional guidelines during official ceremonies.
“We strongly disapprove of the choice by a student at Gallatin School’s graduation to use the event as a platform for an unauthorized political statement,” NYU spokesperson John Beckman said in a statement.
Rozos’ speech comes during a tense graduation season across U.S. universities, as campus protests and pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue in response to the war in Gaza. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice named NYU among several schools where incidents of antisemitism had been reported.
The university has not stated whether Rozos’ diploma will be released at a later date, pending further review.
During his graduation speech, Logan Rozos referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide,” claiming they were “politically and militarily” backed by the United States and funded “by our tax dollars.”
His remarks drew a mix of reactions. While some in the audience cheered when he mentioned Gaza — including brief applause from a few NYU faculty seated behind him — others could be heard booing.
Without naming Rozos directly, NYU spokesperson John Beckman accused the student of submitting a false version of his planned speech and violating an agreement to follow university rules.
CNN has reached out to both Rozos and NYU for additional comment. As of Thursday night, Rozos’ biography had been removed from Gallatin’s website.
According to an archived version of the site, Rozos majored in Cultural Criticism and Political Economy and participated in the Gallatin Theater Troupe. The Associated Press reported he had been selected by fellow students to deliver the commencement address. NYU’s university-wide graduation ceremony took place on Thursday.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) criticized what it called “divisive and false comments about the current Israel/Hamas war” made during the NYU graduation ceremony, and expressed support for the university’s decision to pursue disciplinary action. In a statement posted on X, the ADL thanked NYU for its “strong condemnation” of the remarks.
In contrast, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) defended the speech, calling it a “pro-Palestinian, anti-genocide commencement address.” CAIR urged NYU to grant the student his diploma and condemned the university’s disciplinary response as part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent. The group described such actions against pro-Palestinian voices as a “betrayal of American freedoms and the American people,” according to its statement on X.
This controversy follows a wave of campus protests across the United States last year, including at NYU, where both students and faculty were arrested.