The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has suspended Prahlad Iyengar, a PhD student in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science after he published a pro-Palestine essay in a student magazine.

MIT suspended Indian-origin PhD scholar Prahlad Iyengar over a pro-Palestine essay he wrote in the college magazine.

Last month, the PhD student was barred from entering the MIT campus following the pro-Palestine essay. However, he has now been suspended until January 2026 which would terminate his five-year National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

Iyengar, who also serves as the magazine's chief editor, wrote an article titled "On Pacifism," which featured imagery and language that “could be interpreted as a call for more violent or destructive forms of protest at MIT.

Prahlad Iyengar, also a National Science Foundation fellow, has been "suspended until January 2026". Iyengar is appealing his case with the Chancellor to "revoke or reduce" the "unjust sanctions" against him.

MIT suspended Indian-origin PhD scholar Prahlad Iyengar over a pro-Palestine essay he wrote in the college magazine.

CAMBRIDGE — Around 100 MIT students and community members gathered in the foyer of City Hall on Monday evening to call for city councilors to intervene and block MIT from issuing suspensions to pro-Palestinian student activists for participation in political activity and writing.

PhD scholar of Indian origin Prahlad Iyengar has been suspended from MIT over a pro-Palestine essay for Written Revolution, a multidisciplinary student magazine.

A controversy arose after MIT suspended Prahlad Iyengar, an Indian-origin student, for an essay published in the college magazine.

According to the college, the essay had language that "could be interpreted as a call for more violent or destructive forms of protests at MIT". The MIT Dean of Student Life, David Warren Randall emailed this to the magazine's editors.