Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, asked the president of Northwestern University to sever ties with Al Jazeera after repeated reports of its ties to the terrorist group Hamas, Fox News Digital has learned.
“Al Jazeera has proven to be not only a platform for anti-Israel, pro-terrorism propaganda; it’s also a safe haven for Hamas supporters,” Owens said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“It is unacceptable for any American university that receives hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds each year to work with an organization whose members are terrorists or whose reports incite terror on behalf of Hamas. In testimony to Congress, President Scheer said Northwestern University is Investigate its formal partnership with Al Jazeera, and in light of the disturbing reports, I am calling for immediate answers and action to ensure this corruption is kept away from American students.
Owens, along with Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York, Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, sent a letter to Northwestern University President Michael Trump on Friday. Scheer, demanding answers about the school’s relationship with Al Jazeera, which is funded by the network. Northwestern University has a satellite campus in Qatar that includes a partnership with Al Jazeera, allowing its students “regular engagement with leading media industry professionals,” according to its website.
Burgess-Owens Corner elite university president responds to eye-popping donation from Hamas stronghold in Qatar
Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, holds a hearing with Northwestern University President Michael Schill. (Education and Workforce Committee/Youtube)
Earlier this month, reports emerged that a journalist who had written for Al Jazeera was holding three hostages in his home before being killed by the Israeli military. According to the New York Post, the journalist was never an official employee of the outlet but had bylines on the publication and other outlets in Gaza.
Owens quoted the reporter in his letter, while asking for a response about the school’s relationship with Qatar-backed media.
“On Saturday, June 8, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a daring raid against Hamas to rescue the Israeli hostages kidnapped during the horrific events of October 7. During the raid, the IDF discovered and rescued Three of the hostages held at the home of Abdullah Aljamal in Nuserat died during the rescue, he was a journalist who had published an article for Al Jazeera, information about which can be found on Al Jazeera Found on the website,” the letter to Schill read.
New batch of ‘morally bankrupt’ college administrators to be grilled by House over campus anti-Semitism
Northwestern University President Michael H. Schill, pictured here on January 1, 2020, when he was president of the University of Oregon. (Sean Hafey/Getty Images)
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Al Jazeera has been linked to terrorists or terrorist organizations. According to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Al Jazeera and its journalists have been linked to Hamas during the Israel-Hamas war. Sri Lanka photographed himself with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Trump slams ‘radical left-wing lunatics’ for causing chaos on college campuses across the country
A terrorist from Hamas participates in a military parade marking the anniversary of the 2014 war with Israel near the central Gaza border on July 19, 2023. (Reuters/Ibrahim Abu Mustafa/File photo)
Lawmakers listed other reports linking Al Jazeera to Hamas, including a journalist accused by the Israel Defense Forces of serving as a “deputy commander of a platoon” for Hamas, and two accused by Israel of “operating drones” Al Jazeera reporter who poses a threat to Israel. Israeli soldier” before being killed in an airstrike.
“The fact that Northwest is working with Al Jazeera and disseminating propaganda on behalf of Hamas, despite evidence that some of its journalists are active members and even leaders of Hamas, is deeply troubling. For a American universities receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds each year to work with organizations whose members are terrorists or whose reports promote propaganda on behalf of terrorist groups,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Scheer.
Jewish student defies anti-Israel activists who ‘stalked’ him on California campus: Will not be ‘silenced’
“It is anathema to the American way of life and antithetical to our education system, which is designed to change hearts and minds through persuasion and dialogue, not violence.”
Rep. Burgess Owens attends a House committee hearing on February 1, 2023 in the Rayburn Building. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
During a heated House hearing last month, Owens grilled Scheer about the staggering amount of donations his elite schools received from Qatar.
“Do you think it’s a good idea for Northwestern to work with a government that harbors the terrorists of Hamas and the Iranian operatives who sponsor terrorism? Yes or no?” Owens asked Schill, sitting in front of a giant billboard check prop, above Depicting Qatar’s $600 million donation to Northwestern University.
“I’m not going to answer yes or no,” Schier replied.
Campus ‘career guide’ taps into demagogues’ ‘anger’, guides how to ‘escalate’ chaos
“Obviously, you have no problem with that,” Owens said. “The journalism school at Northwestern University…” Owens continued, but was interrupted by Schill.
“You told me my point of view and I was really offended,” Schier interjected.
Students and residents camped outside Northwestern University during an anti-Israel protest in Evanston, Illinois, on April 27. (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu, Getty Images)
“Did you know that the Northwestern School of Journalism has a formal partnership with Al Jazeera?” Owens under pressure The university president responded that he had only recently learned of the partnership.
“Actually, I just found out about this last week,” he replied.
Stefanik feuds with top school principal over anti-Semitic failings and shocking whistleblower accusations
“So let me make you aware of this, because Al Jazeera – because of their pro-Hamas coverage – Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked the Prime Minister of Qatar to tone down Al Jazeera’s anti-Israel incitement. And, this is Israel, Saudi Arabia The Arabs, Jordan and Egypt have blocked Al Jazeera because they are pro-Hamas mouthpieces. My understanding is that your contract with the Qatari Foundation expires at the end of the 2027-2028 academic year?
The hearing, held by the House Education and Workforce Committee, featured Scheer, UCLA Chancellor Gene Bullock and Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway discussing their experiences last school year amid widespread protests, tent encampments and calls for schools to Testimony was given on dealing with campus anti-Semitism in the aftermath of Israeli divestment.
Northwestern University President Michael Schier, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway and UCLA Chancellor Gene Bullock (University of Oregon/Rutgers University/Getty)
Scheer told the committee at the hearing that he was “concerned” about the agreement with Al Jazeera, adding “we will look into it.”
Stefanik questions Harvard president: Students are calling for an “uprising” and anti-Semitism is rampant on campus
The letter sent Friday asked for an update on Schill’s investigation into ties to Al Jazeera by July 19 and called on the school’s president to “take immediate action” and end the Qatar campus’s partnership with the outlet.
Weber Arch, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, November 13, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Mr. Scheer, at a congressional hearing on May 23, you expressed concerns about Northwestern University’s partnership with Al Jazeera. During the hearing, you promised to investigate the partnership. In light of these reports, we Urging Northwestern to take immediate action to terminate the existing partnership between Northwestern University in Qatar and Al Jazeera, we ask that you respond to this letter by noon ET on Friday, July 19.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Fox News Digital reached out to Northwestern Monday afternoon but did not immediately receive a response.
