On Jan. 15, members of the Congregation Beth Israel, a reformed Jewish synagogue outside of Dallas-Fort Worth, were taken hostage by an armed individual named Malik Faisal Akram. Akram took four people hostage. None of the hostages were hurt, though Akram was killed by law enforcement, according to a CNN article. University president Ron Liebowitz spoke on the incident in an email to community members, according to an email sent on Jan. 16. 

“Our community is outraged by the hostage-taking that occurred at a synagogue in Texas on Jan. 15, and I know we are all relieved that those taken hostage are now free and safe,” reads the email. 

Liebowitz acknowledges in the email how the hostage incident may be of concern to the Brandeis community due to its connection to the American Jewish community. Liebowitz also condemned the recent surge in antisemitic crimes in the United States in the past couple of years. 

While Liebowitz condemned the hostage situation and acknowledged the hurt the American Jewish population is experiencing, he also noted that the university is “deeply disturbed that the U.S. Muslim community is already being targeted with hate” in relation to these incidents. 

Akram, who was a British national, took hold of the hostages because he wanted the release of a convicted terrorist currently serving an 86-year prison sentence, according to the CNN article. 

The rabbi taken hostage in the synagogue, ​​Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, said that none of the hostages were hurt, though they were being threatened. One hostage was released at 5 p.m. The other three managed to escape the situation after causing a diversion and running out of the building. According to the CNN article, Akram remained in the synagogue without shooting at the hostages. Then, law enforcement personnel, including the hostage rescue team, breached the building and killed Akram. 

Liebowitz acknowledged how the hostage event in Texas could impact community members, writing, “ I am always concerned about the safety and well-being of all in our community, and at this time I am particularly aware of the great concern our Jewish and Muslim community members are feeling presently.” 

The attack in Texas has a noted connection to Brandeis, according to multiple media outlets, including CNN, who cited that the convicted terrorist whom Akram wanted released—Aafia Siddiqui—was a graduate of Brandeis University. Siddiqui received her Ph.D. from Brandeis in neuroscience over two decades ago, according to Liebowitz. In the email, Liebowitz wrote that “it goes without saying that Brandeis has no connection to the attack in Texas, and condemns it in the strongest possible terms.”

Siddiqui lived in the United States from 1991 to 2002, according to a CNN article. She was arrested in Afghanistan in 2008 after being interrogated by US officers. Siddiqui, according to the article, had fired an unattended rifle at a U.S. officer and attacked an FBI agent and US army officer who tried to disarm her. After the incident, she was convicted for attempted murder in 2010, according to the article. According to the article, she was in her mid-thirties at the time of conviction. 

Siddiqui, who is Pakistani, is considered by some Pakistanis as a “victim of the ‘war on terrorism,’” according to the CNN article. Protests were held after her conviction of attempted murder back in 2010, according to the article.

Liebowitz concluded the email with resources for students on campus to assure security for community members. The university will remain in close contact with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. No threats had been made against the university at the time of this article being published, though additional law enforcement personnel have been put on duty. 

Students were encouraged to reach out to Brandeis Hillel, the Center for Spiritual Life and the Intercultural Center for support when processing these events. Faculty, staff and students can all use resources found on the Support at Brandeis webpage.