New Books in Islamic Studies 13.3 – Ismail Patel and Hatem Bazian
Oct 31, 2025
Hatem Bazian, a prominent Palestinian scholar at UC Berkeley, and Ismail Patel, founder of Friends of Al-Aqsa, delve into the complexities of pro-Palestinian activism. They reflect on their personal experiences witnessing occupation, the power of protests in fostering solidarity, and the intricate connections between Palestine and other justice movements. The discussion stretches into the colonial legacies in global politics, critiques of Western universities' complicity, and the importance of redefining what success in the movement truly means.
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Childhood Encounter With Occupation
- Hatem Bazian recalled being strip-searched with his mother at age five when crossing from Jordan to Palestine, a formative encounter with occupation.
- He links that early memory to lifelong organizing against settler colonialism and U.S. support for Israel.
Visit That Sparked Organizing
- Ismail Patel described visiting Palestine in 1995 and being shocked by what he recognized as apartheid and by discovering Al-Aqsa's importance.
- He returned to Britain and founded Friends of Al-Aqsa after organizing a large university conference.
Protests As A Cumulative Movement
- Hatem Bazian argued current protests are cumulative, rooted in long struggles from the First Intifada to George Floyd.
- He highlights universities as central organizing hubs because of their activist history and size.
