The Columbia University Apartheid Divest group has sparked significant controversy and backlash after posting the phrase “Marg bar Amrika,” which means “Death to America” in Persian, on social media.

The phrase was posted Saturday on its X account after the joint U.S.-Israel military strike on Iran that killed the Ayatollah Khamenei, who popularized the slogan. The post on X went viral before it was deleted.

Columbia University officially denounced the post and distanced itself from the group.

“The group that calls itself ‘CUAD’ is not a recognized student group, or affiliated in any way with the University,” Columbia’s March 1 statement read. “There is no evidence that anyone currently in control of their account is a current Columbia student, staff, or faculty member. They are illegally using the Columbia name.”

While Columbia said the group is not a recognized campus student organization, some have argued it is an umbrella group that encompasses many official student groups on campus.

“CUAD is not remotely new. By the organizers’ own account, the Columbia University Apartheid Divest Coalition dates to 2016, built by SJP and JVP for divestment referendums, went dormant after 2020, then reappeared after SJP and JVP were suspended in November 2023,” stated higher education watchdog Stu Smith on X.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest stated it was forced to delete its “marg bar amrika” post to gain back access to its X account, “but the sentiment still stands.” However that doubling-down post has also now been deleted.

“CUAD was among the student protest groups that received praise from Khamenei, who was killed during Saturday’s airstrikes on the Islamic state, for being an integral part of the anti-Israel ‘resistance’ in the US,” the New York Post reported.

In response to the backlash, the group posted on X it is not affiliated with Columbia.

“Friendly reminder that CUAD has no affiliation to or ties with the fascist state functionary known as Columbia University. We operate completely outside of the purview of a registered student organization and are proud to not receive any recognition from that institution,” it posted Feb. 28.

The Columbia Jewish Alumni Association argued in response to the controversy that the problem stems from faculty.

“Faculty & Staff for Justice in Palestine publicly aligned with CUAD from Day 1. They shared messaging and tactics, and collaborated on campaigns,” the association posted on X on March 1.

“In May 2024, @CampusJewHate revealed that THIRTY faculty … signed this open letter supporting CUAD. Are we supposed to believe that @Columbia faculty, who coordinate with and sign letters in support of CUAD, are not affiliated? Does it even matter?”

“Over the past 2 years, we’ve documented @Columbia faculty who: Described the U.S. as ‘a nation founded upon genocide.’ Referred to America as a ‘self-proclaimed democracy.’ Lectured that Abraham Lincoln was a ‘model’ for the Nazis. So when Columbia tries to distance itself from CUAD, it rings hollow. If these are the people it hires to teach the next generation of American leaders, no amount of denial changes the fact that this is Columbia’s responsibility,” according to the association.

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