Alibhai v. University of Texas at Dallas, et al.

Summary

On May 1, 2024, students and faculty at the University of Texas at Dallas organized a peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. Assistant professor of Art History Ali Asgar Alibhai was present to observe and record the demonstration when law enforcement intervened. Officers from multiple agencies, including campus police, county sheriff deputies, and state troopers, used physical force, including twisting his limbs, kicking, tearing his shirt, and dragging him across campus before taking him into custody. Alibhai was placed in a transport van without ventilation for nearly an hour, during which he became overheated and repeatedly requested assistance that officers ignored. He reported physical discomfort, emotional distress, and ongoing professional disruption from the arrest.

On August 3, 2025, Alibhai filed a federal lawsuit against the university, its leadership, and local law enforcement. The complaint alleged violations of his First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly, Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful seizure and false arrest, and Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process and equal protection. He also claimed racial and religious discrimination, stating that as a South Asian Muslim he was treated more harshly than other faculty arrested at the same event. The lawsuit further described informal restrictions imposed by the university after his release, which limited his access to campus offices, research spaces, and student interactions, interfering with teaching, research, and other professional responsibilities.

The complaint included detailed accounts of the arrest and its aftermath, including repeated physical intimidation by officers, lack of clear communication about charges, and the psychological toll of prolonged detention and restrictive campus policies. Alibhai stated that the university’s response created an environment of fear and uncertainty, affecting his ability to perform normal academic duties and participate fully in campus life.

Alibhai’s lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges arising from the May 1, 2024 protest. Tenured professors Ben Wright and Rosemary Admiral, who were also arrested during the encampment, later filed a separate federal lawsuit on October 20, 2025, alleging similar unlawful arrest, retaliation, and restrictive campus measures, connecting the cases through the university’s handling of faculty involvement in the protest.