Seattle University Still Has Not Apologized For Snatching Palestinian Flag From Student At Graduation

Seattle University faced international backlash when a clip of Provost Shane Martin yanking the Palestinian flag from a student as she crossed the stage at graduation went viral earlier this month. Martin and the University have since released statements related to the incident, but they stopped short of publicly apologizing for what the student’s supporters described as “selective, viewpoint based discrimination.”

So, advocates are keeping the pressure on Seattle U to meet their demands to rectify the situation: A public apology from Seattle U and the provost, written assurance of no retaliation against the student, a full investigation in the provost’s conduct, and mandatory Islamophobia training for faculty and administration.

Psychology student Sumeyya Osman said at a recent press conference that she had been dreaming of her graduation, fantasizing about throwing her cap in the air and going to great lengths to make sure the day, June 14, was absolutely picture perfect. But it wasn’t just about her — she would be fulfilling a dream for her parents as the first in her family to graduate. And, Osman said she felt compelled to also use her moment in the spotlight to show her solidarity for the people in Palestine. 

But her special day did not go as planned. When Osman walked across the stage that afternoon, she attempted to display the Palestinian flag. The provost quickly yanked the flag, seemingly in effort to keep it out of view. 

Martin then grabbed Osman, firmly directing her off stage, an action many saw as aggressive and even assault. The incident felt especially violating because Osman said she told the provost she didn’t want to shake his hand or have any physical contact with him in observance of her Muslim faith. 

At a press conference last week, CAIR WA, elected officials, clergy members, and even Seattle U faculty members called on the University and the provost to publicly apologize for taking the student’s flag and touching her against her wishes. They also called for a transparent investigation into the incident, written assurance that the University would not retaliate against the student, and sensitivity training to combat Islamophobia. 

So far, the provost has only apologized for the “misunderstanding” related to the unwanted physical contact. He claimed he did not “observe or hear any request” that Osman wanted to avoid touching in accordance with her faith. 

“As a leader of a faith-based institution, I have deep respect for the many religious traditions represented on our campus and in the world,” Martin said in a written statement to the press. “If I had known [Osman] did not want to be touched, I would have honored the request just as I did for at least a dozen other graduating students who signaled clearly they did not wish to be touched.”

Martin added that he “regret[s] that this event has taken attention away from the overall commencement ceremony, the achievements of all of our graduates, and especially the moving benediction that closed the ceremony.” 

CAIR WA did not accept Martin’s apology, according to a statement from CAIR WA Executive Director Imraan Siddiqi. Siddiqi maintains that the incident “cannot be chalked up to a mere misunderstanding.” If Martin had not been so focused on hiding the Palestinian flag, he would have heard Osman clearly state out loud that she does not touch men due to her Muslim beliefs. 

The University addressed the flag element more directly. 

“Like many higher education institutions, Seattle University maintains guidelines on what can be displayed on stage to ensure a dignified and consistent ceremony for all students and families,” the statement read. “In keeping with those guidelines, items that are not aligned with the onstage activities are not permitted.”

Other students displayed political and cultural messaging throughout the ceremony, but flags seem to be over the line for Seattle U. According to the student paper, The Spectator, other flags got confiscated while students waited to go on stage, but allegedly they missed Osman’s. In any case, no one can seem to locate publicly available guidelines about cultural and political displays at Seattle U graduation. 

But this is a larger issue than the transparency of Seattle U’s policy on flags at graduation. For years, even before the genocide in Gaza brought new, mainstream attention to the struggle for Palestinian liberation, universities have treated expressions of support for Palestinians as uniquely suspect, disruptive, or unacceptable. From student encampments met with police crackdowns to disciplinary investigations targeting protesters, higher education has too often responded to Palestine advocacy not with dialogue but with censorship. That broader context is what makes the Seattle U incident so troubling. The question is not simply whether a flag violated an obscure commencement rule; it is why symbols of Palestinian identity and solidarity continue to trigger extraordinary enforcement. 

Osman and her allies will continue to demand the University rectify the situation.