Texas A&M professor teaches that Hamas is a ‘charity organization’, students say

Sena Karasipahi, who has worked at the university since 2006, currently serves as an instructional assistant professor in the Department of International Affairs.

In numerous RateMyProfessors reviews, students who have been enrolled in classes taught by Karasipahi reported that her lectures were "heavily ideologically slanted," and often contained biased, if not outright false information.

One reviewer who took INTS321: Political Islam and Jihad with Karasipahi said she "teaches her opinion as fact and tests you as such."

Another noted she does not allow students to take notes via electronics, adding that they "believe this is so no video of opinion as fact and very obvious bias becomes known outside of her class."

In an interview with the Texas Scorecard, a former student said that Karasipahi also referred to Hamas as a "humanitarian group," and suggested it was created in part by Israel "like the US helped create Al Qaeda."

"[Karasipahi] says it's not a religious war," the student said, referring to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, "and has even claimed that Hamas cannot be anti-Semitic because they are semites themselves."

She noted that "there are a lot of students that agree" with Karasipahi.

Hamas, which was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 1997 and has since been added to the list in countless other countries, launched its latest wave of attacks on Oct. 7.

In the days since, college campuses and city centers around the world have been filled with dueling protests, with some defending Israel and others siding with the Palestinians, and even Hamas itself.

Such an event took place at Texas A&M recently, with a large group of students chanting "We want justice you say how ... End the siege of Gaza now!"