SMU has confirmed that it will not permit a Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium organized by the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to be held on campus.
The local chapter of the Muslim civil rights and advocacy group had advertised the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium on its website as an opportunity for high school students and rising college freshmen and sophomores to spend “a full day focused on leadership and civic engagement.”
The organization advertised simultaneous Dallas and Houston events scheduled for Sept. 19. The Dallas event was set to be held at SMU, according to a flyer posted by CAIR Texas.
SMU officials said in a statement that “after reviewing plans for an upcoming unaffiliated youth leadership symposium advertised to take place at SMU, the University has determined that permitting the event to take place on campus, given the State of Texas’ current designation of the symposium’s organizer, is inconsistent with our mission and related University policies. As a result, the event will not take place on campus.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization last year. CAIR has rejected the designation and challenged it legally.
While SMU confirmed that the event won’t be held on campus, officials added in a statement that the university “welcomes a wide range of organizations and perspectives to campus as part of our commitment to open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas.”
People Newspapers has reached out to CAIR Texas for comment.
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