When we recently learned that the Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was attending the UN's opening activities in New York, had been invited to dinner by a group of Columbia University students we knew we had to act. The Columbia International Relations Council and Association (CIRCA), which had planned the Haman banquet, bills itself as one of Columbia's largest undergraduate organizations, is funded by the University and has its offices right on the campus. We recalled that in 2007, Columbia had also shamefully invited the Iranian leader to speak, providing him with a platform to present his perverted ideas to an international audience while clothed in the vestments of the University's legitimacy. We were determined not to allow it to happen again.
Along with our newly launched American office in New York, we quickly dispatched a warning letter to Columbia University's President Lee Bollinger advising him that Columbia’s plan to host a banquet for Ahmadinejad runs afoul of U.S. anti-terror laws and will subject the university and its officials to both criminal prosecution and civil liability to victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism in Israel or elsewhere. The letter explains that Iran has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States (22 U.S.C 2656f) and that the provision of any support by U.S. persons, including the planned banquet for Ahmadinejad, is considered unlawful provision of aid to the outlawed regime. We also wrote that victims of Iranian terrorism will file civil actions and hold Columbia liable for their injuries.
The warning letter, signed by New York attorney Robert Tolchin and myself, noted that we represent individuals and families who have been victims of Iranian-sponsored terror groups such as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas in legal actions around the world. We accused Ahmadinejad of personally directing Iran’s terrorist and nuclear proliferation activities and human rights abuse as well as calling for genocide against the Jewish people. We also reminded the Columbia officials of Iran’s massive support for Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas, which have killed thousands of American citizens.
The letter to President Bollinger stated:
Along with our newly launched American office in New York, we quickly dispatched a warning letter to Columbia University's President Lee Bollinger advising him that Columbia’s plan to host a banquet for Ahmadinejad runs afoul of U.S. anti-terror laws and will subject the university and its officials to both criminal prosecution and civil liability to victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism in Israel or elsewhere. The letter explains that Iran has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States (22 U.S.C 2656f) and that the provision of any support by U.S. persons, including the planned banquet for Ahmadinejad, is considered unlawful provision of aid to the outlawed regime. We also wrote that victims of Iranian terrorism will file civil actions and hold Columbia liable for their injuries.
The warning letter, signed by New York attorney Robert Tolchin and myself, noted that we represent individuals and families who have been victims of Iranian-sponsored terror groups such as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas in legal actions around the world. We accused Ahmadinejad of personally directing Iran’s terrorist and nuclear proliferation activities and human rights abuse as well as calling for genocide against the Jewish people. We also reminded the Columbia officials of Iran’s massive support for Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas, which have killed thousands of American citizens.
The letter to President Bollinger stated:
“Hosting Ahmadinejad at a banquet is not merely morally repulsive: it is illegal and likely to render Columbia University and its officers both criminally and civilly liable. Iran is official designated under U.S. law as a state sponsor of terrorism, as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and as a perpetrator of human rights abuses. Ahmadinejad is Iran’s chief executive and personally directs Iran’s terrorist and nuclear proliferation activities and human rights abuse . . .
While for Columbia University and certain of its officers hosting Ahmadinejad at a banquet might appear to be nothing more than a harmlessRadical Chic parlor game such conduct is in fact very serious business that can and will have severe, real-world criminal and civil consequences for Columbia and its officers.”
Columbia University quickly backed away from the planned event and claimed that the University was not involved and it had been organized by a "private" Columbia student group. Whatever that is. In the wake of the public furor it was finally reported that the banquet had been canceled and that the Columbia students did not participate in meeting with the Iranian terrorist leader. Strike up another legal victory for the good guys.
May all such Hamans have their plans nullified in the coming year!
May all such Hamans have their plans nullified in the coming year!
