A controversial figure linked to Columbia University's recent anti-Israel protests made an appearance at a significant Middle Eastern funeral.

According to Free Beacon, Charlotte Kates, international coordinator of the sanctioned Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, attended Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah's funeral in Beirut, where mourners chanted anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans.

Tens of thousands gathered at Lebanon's largest sports venue, Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, to pay their respects to Nasrallah.

The Hezbollah leader was killed by Israeli forces on September 27, 2024, following months of attacks on Israel that began after Hamas's October 7 assault.

Columbia University's controversial connection deepens

Kates's presence at the funeral raises significant concerns about her previous involvement with Columbia University. Just months before the funeral, she conducted a lecture titled "Palestinian Resistance 101" for Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD).

Her husband, Khaled Barakat, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), joined her in delivering speeches about liberation struggles.

The United States government took action against Samidoun and Barakat in October, imposing sanctions for their support of the PFLP, a terrorist organization that participated in Hamas's October 7 attack. Despite these sanctions, CUAD continued distributing materials promoting Samidoun near Columbia's campus.

CUAD's involvement with Kates and subsequent activities have led to numerous disruptions on campus. Recent incidents include cement being poured into a campus building's sewage system and the targeting of Jewish students with anti-Semitic flyers.

Iranian recognition and terror group connections

According to Kates, who shared her views during the Columbia lecture, "The fact is that October 7 changed the world … we saw the potential of a future for Palestine liberated from Zionism."

Iran's support for Kates became evident when she received the "Eighth Annual Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity Award" in Tehran. Other recipients included Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Palestinian Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ziyad al-Nakhalah.

During the Columbia lecture, Kates praised Iran's role in supporting Palestinian resistance. She advocated for removing various organizations from America's terror list, arguing that such designations harm Palestinian and Arab interests.

Disturbing endorsement of violent tactics

Barakat's Columbia lecture contained explicit support for terrorism. His statements included praise for airplane hijackings as resistance tactics.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Joseph Slaughter, a Columbia English professor and member of the university's disciplinary body, who described terrorist plane hijackings as "spectacular" and "remarkable."

The couple's influence extends beyond academic circles. Kates's social media posts from Nasrallah's funeral expressed admiration for the Hezbollah leader. She described the event as an honor and praised Nasrallah as an anti-imperialist leader and international revolutionary.

Final analysis of troubling developments

Charlotte Kates, a key figure in the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, attended Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah's funeral while maintaining connections to Columbia University's controversial anti-Israel movement. Her presence at the funeral occurred despite U.S. sanctions against her organization for supporting terrorist activities.

The situation highlights growing concerns about the intersection of academic institutions and organizations linked to terrorist groups. Kates's continued influence at Columbia University, combined with her husband's explicit endorsement of violent tactics and their mutual recognition by Iran, demonstrates the complex challenges facing university administrators dealing with campus radicalization.

Why This Story Matters

This story illuminates the tangled web of political activism, terrorism, international diplomacy, and local responses to global conflicts. The presence of figures like Charlotte Kates and Khaled Barakat at significant events such as Nasrallah's funeral underlines the intersection of ideological struggle and geopolitical maneuvering.

In conclusion, the story of Charlotte Kates at Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral interlinks with broader narratives of international diplomacy, regional conflict, and the contentious debate over terrorism and resistance. It presents an ongoing tension between national security interests and the defense of what some consider legitimate struggles for liberation and dignity.