1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about the alarming violation of constitutional rights and human rights unfolding in the case of Rümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts University student detained by ICE. The facts indicate she was targeted and arrested solely for exercising her right to free speech by authoring an op-ed critiquing the university's response to resolutions related to Palestinian rights. This arrest represents a blatant attack on the First Amendment and academic freedom. Furthermore, depriving Ms. Öztürk of her prescribed asthma medications, leading to multiple asthma attacks while in custody, is an unconscionable denial of her fundamental human right to medical care and jeopardizes her health and wellbeing. Such mistreatment and disregard for her basic needs is unacceptable and inhumane. I urge you to take immediate action to secure the release of Ms. Öztürk and hold those responsible for this injustice accountable. Her continued detention not only violates her civil liberties but poses a grave risk to her personal safety and human rights. This situation demands an urgent resolution that upholds the values of democracy, free speech, and human dignity that our nation claims to uphold.