Fact Check: Was Francesca Albanese Really Banned from Speaking at AUB?
Claims that the American University of Beirut (AUB) barred UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese from speaking on campus have been circulating widely on social media, but the university released a statement claiming these reports are misleading.
AUB confirmed that no event featuring Albanese had been scheduled or canceled. According to the university, any potential guest must go through standard vetting procedures. This includes legal compliance checks under both Lebanese and U.S. law.
Because AUB is chartered by the New York State Education Department, it is required to screen all invited individuals against the U.S. government’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list. Albanese has been sanctioned by the U.S., meaning the university could not legally host her. She is known for her advocacy on Palestinian rights and has spoken internationally on human rights issues. However, AUB stressed that this decision was based on legal requirements, not on her views or work.
While the university cites legal obligations as the reason Albanese could not be hosted, we are disappointed by the obstruction of academic freedoms when foreign politics intersect with campus events.
This situation raises questions about how political pressures can limit dialogue at universities that pride themselves on free thought. This goes to show how academic spaces and curricula are shaped by forces beyond the classroom. These external pressures can quietly influence what ideas are explored and whose voices are heard.
You can read AUB’s full statement about Francesca Albanese here.
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