MIT Suspends Indian-Origin PhD Student Over Pro-Palestine Essay

Prahlad Iyengar's suspension until 2026 has ignited debates on free speech and academic freedom in U.S. universities.

Prahlad Iyengar, an Indian-origin PhD student at MIT, has been suspended until January 2026 over a pro-Palestine essay published in a student magazine.
MIT cited the essay's language and imagery, including a logo of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, as potentially inciting violence, which Iyengar denies adding to the publication.
The suspension also terminates Iyengar's National Science Foundation fellowship and restricts his access to campus, effectively halting his academic career.
The MIT Coalition Against Apartheid and other supporters have launched protests, calling the suspension an attack on free speech and student activism.
Iyengar is appealing the decision to MIT's Chancellor, arguing that the sanctions set a dangerous precedent for academic freedom and political expression.