A planned event at Georgetown University Law Center (GULC) featuring a speaker with known ties to a U.S.-designated terrorist organization was abruptly postponed after legal concerns were raised. The Lawfare Project, a legal think tank dedicated to protecting Jewish civil rights, alerted both university officials and the Department of Justice (DOJ) about the planned appearance of Ribhi Karajah, a documented member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
The event, organized by Georgetown Law’s chapter of Law Students for Justice in Palestine (LSJP), was set to feature Karajah despite his affiliation with the PFLP, a group classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. government. The Lawfare Project noted that federal law—specifically 18 U.S.C. § 2339B—prohibits knowingly providing “material support or resources” to an FTO, raising concerns that hosting Karajah at the event could constitute a legal violation.
While the event was officially postponed due to “weather,” The Lawfare Project stressed that such an invitation should never have been approved in the first place. “Members of the #EndJewHatred movement informed The Lawfare Project that a known member of a terrorist organization had been invited to speak at Georgetown Law,” said Benjamin Ryberg, attorney and Chief Operating Officer of The Lawfare Project. “This event should never have been approved by university officials. We take our responsibility to alert all relevant parties—both at Georgetown and within the Department of Justice—extremely seriously, and we stand ready to work with law enforcement to ensure a proper investigation.”
Flyers with Antisemitic Language Circulated on Campus
The Lawfare Project was first alerted to the event by concerned GULC students who had discovered promotional flyers around campus. The materials, which contained antisemitic rhetoric, further fueled concerns about the nature of the event and its potential implications. The Lawfare Project has since called on Georgetown University to conduct a review of the event approval process to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Georgetown Under Scrutiny for Enrolling Student with Hamas Ties
In a separate but related matter, The Lawfare Project also revealed that Georgetown University had enrolled Mapheze Saleh, a student who has openly acknowledged working with Hamas, another U.S.-designated terrorist group. The organization has urged the DOJ to investigate and deport Saleh, citing federal laws that prohibit individuals with ties to terrorist organizations from entering or remaining in the United States.
Under federal immigration law, an individual who has engaged in terrorist activities is deemed inadmissible and subject to removal. The Lawfare Project has demanded immediate action from authorities, stating that Saleh’s presence at the university raises serious security concerns.
Georgetown University Remains Silent
Despite the growing controversy, Georgetown University Law Center has not yet issued a response to The Lawfare Project’s concerns. The lack of acknowledgment has raised further questions about the university’s handling of extremism on campus and whether it has taken adequate steps to prevent the promotion of terrorist-affiliated speakers.
With the DOJ now aware of both cases, legal experts are watching closely to see whether federal authorities will take action. In the meantime, The Lawfare Project has vowed to continue monitoring the situation, ensuring that universities adhere to federal law and do not provide a platform for individuals with terrorist affiliations.