University of Arkansas dean removed tenured Middle East studies director over Israel posts, later fired her

On December 5, 2025, University of Arkansas Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Dean Brian Raines removed tenured political science professor Shirin Saeidi as director of the university's King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies, citing her social media posts and reposts about Israel's bombardment of Gaza, Iran, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; the university also alleged she improperly used university letterhead. Raines then recommended Saeidi's termination, including over a repost containing language about "Zionists" that Saeidi's attorney said used figurative language made in the context of rejecting collective blame. Saeidi was placed on paid suspension and appealed the decision.

Saeidi's appeal went before the UA Faculty Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure, which held a hearing on her case; the committee's recommendation would then go to UA System President Jay Silveria, who was not bound by it and had final say.

Updates

2026-02-27 — UA faculty committee unanimously recommended against Saeidi's dismissal [2]

The UA Faculty Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure unanimously recommended against Saeidi's dismissal, finding the university had failed to distinguish protected political speech from conduct that actually violated policy.

2026-03-30 — UA System president overrode the faculty committee and moved to fire Saeidi [3]

Despite the faculty committee's unanimous recommendation, President Jay Silveria proceeded with terminating Saeidi, citing in his written response the risk that the university could lose funding under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-16-2004, an Arkansas law tying school funding to how institutions respond to antisemitism complaints, if its handling of the matter were deemed inadequate.

2026-05-20 — UA System Board of Trustees upheld the firing and revoked Saeidi's tenure [4]

The 10-member UA System Board of Trustees voted to uphold Saeidi's termination, finalizing her firing and revoking her tenure. University attorneys argued Saeidi's reposts, made after she had described Israel as a "terrorist and genocidal state" in other posts, "encourag[ed] the murder of Zionists" with no accompanying commentary distancing her from that message. Saeidi's attorney argued the material was offensive but did not amount to conduct meriting termination, and that the repost was made in the context of rejecting collective blame while she had also opposed attacks on both Jewish and Islamic people.