Who Is Eman Abdelhadi?
Eman Abdelhadi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago who seems to think her classroom is a staging ground for a revolution rather than, you know, a place for academic inquiry. She proudly wears the hat of a “lifelong activist,” a title that apparently takes precedence over her duties as Director of Graduate Studies. From praising the October 7th attacks to getting arrested at ICE facilities, Abdelhadi seems to be setting a new standard for how a tenured professor can test the limits of academic freedom and the law.
She’s also the half-sister of Abdul El-Sayed, the 2026 Michigan Democratic Senate primary winner, because of course she is.
What Did Eman Abdelhadi Say About the October 7th Hamas Attacks?
Abdelhadi’s immediate reaction to the October 7th attacks was so concerning that even the Anti-Defamation League felt the need to call her out. Her response wasn’t measured academic analysis; it was straight-up celebration. The ADL included Abdelhadi in a published article titled “Some U.S. Professors Praise Hamas’s October 7 Terror Attacks,” documenting professors who “justified, excused and even” praised the attacks after she posted on the morning of October 7th, “Morning freedom” with a Palestine flag emoji.
Nothing says “freedom” like cheering for a terrorist attack.
Has Eman Abdelhadi Been Arrested or Charged with Crimes?
Yes, and it’s not a minor traffic violation. Abdelhadi’s activism escalated from controversial tweets to direct legal confrontations, landing her in handcuffs with felony charges that would make most academics reconsider their life choices.
In October 2025, she was arrested during protests at an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, and charged with battery to a police officer, resisting arrest, and other felonies. It was reported she was charged with “battery to a police officer, resisting, and other violent felonies.”
Guess “Morning freedom” has a different meaning when you’re the one getting arrested.
How Has Eman Abdelhadi Promoted the Palestine Solidarity Movement?
Abdelhadi doesn’t just participate in activism; she’s made it her entire personality. She’s given lectures at other universities, published strategy pieces on Palestine, and framed encampments as “healing and energizing” in her official university blog posts. Her activism extends well beyond campus, too: she was on the streets of Chicago during the DNC protests, where her posts reportedly drew the attention of federal authorities.
- Spring 2024 – Abdelhadi was deeply involved in the Palestine solidarity encampment movement nationally, giving a 1.5-hour lecture at the University of Oregon titled “Palestine and the Future of US Campus Activism.” She’s quoted at teach-ins at UChicago and publishes “Recognition Is Solidarity” on the University of Chicago’s Critical Inquiry blog, describing encampments as healing and energizing.
- August 2024 – Abdelhadi participates in Gaza ceasefire protests at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The Independent reports she tweeted about a Gaza protest at the DNC, after which Kamala Harris supporters (“K-Hive”) reported her to federal authorities. Oops.
- 2024 – As a columnist for “In These Times”, Abdelhadi publishes multiple pieces directly on Palestine strategy, including on the Gaza hunger strike, the Democratic Party’s “Israel problem,” and Muslim American political transformation post-October 7th. Because apparently, she didn’t have enough outlets to share her hot takes.
- October 2023 – Abdelhadi signed a letter as a “Writer in Solidarity With Palestine” that supported October 7th as a “fight for liberation against the illegal occupation of ‘Israel’ and the violent settler colonial apartheid state”
Did Eman Abdelhadi Really Say “F*** the University of Chicago”?
She sure did, and on video, no less. At the Socialism 2025 conference, Abdelhadi broadcast her contempt for her employer to the world, calling UChicago an “evil colonial landlord” and admitting she only works there to “build power” for Palestine. Nothing says “I love my job” like publicly trashing the institution that pays your salary.
This public denunciation of her employer suggests a profound conflict of interest, calling into question her role as a leader within the university and her ability to represent it fairly. The University of Chicago launched an investigation into her comments. Shocking, we know.
Conclusion: What Does Eman Abdelhadi Mean for the University of Chicago?
Eman Abdelhadi seems to represent a growing trend where “activism” gets used as a shield for behavior that, on its face, violates basic standards of decency and legal conduct. Her pattern of behavior, from praising terrorism to assaulting police, suggests she’s not just an observer of conflict but an instigator.
Her open contempt for the University of Chicago, combined with felony charges, should logically disqualify her from holding a position of authority over students. Given the felony charges of battery to a police officer, her actions arguably violate federal and state laws, raising serious questions about her fitness to be an educator rather than just a political agitator. But hey, at least she’s consistent.
