Susan M. Akram

Susan M. Akram

Clinical Professor of Law


BA with honors, University of Michigan Ann Arbor
JD, Georgetown University
Diplome in International Human Rights,
Institut International des Droits de l’Homme, Strasbourg (France)
Masters of Studies, International Human Rights Law, University of Oxford


Biography

Professor Susan Akram directs BU Law’s International Human Rights Clinic, in which she supervises students engaged in international advocacy in domestic, international, regional, and UN fora. Her research and publications focus on immigration, asylum, refugee, forced migration, and human and civil rights issues, with an interest in the Middle East, the Arab, and Muslim world.

Akram’s distinguished research was recognized with a Fulbright Senior Scholar Teaching and Research Award for the 1999–2000 academic year. She has lectured on Palestinian refugees to general audiences around the world as well as to committees of the United Nations (including the High Commission for Refugees and the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), the European Union, and representatives of European and Canadian government ministries and parliaments. Since September 11, 2001, she has presented widely on the USA Patriot Act and immigration-related laws and policies as well as on her work challenging standard interpretations of women’s asylum claims from the Arab/Muslim world.

With her clinic students as well as in collaboration with other legal organizations, Akram has worked on resettlement and refugee claims of Guantanamo detainees, and has been co-counsel on a number of high profile cases, including the 20+-year litigation of a case of first impression on the interpretation of one of the exclusion bars to asylum, In Re A-H-. She has taught at the American University in Cairo, Egypt and at Al-Quds and Birzeit Universities in Palestine. She regularly teaches in the summer institute on forced migration at the Refugee Studies Centre at Oxford University, and in various venues in the Middle East on refugee law.

Publications

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  • Susan M. Akram, Palestinian Refugees, in Routledge Companion to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Asaf Siniver,2022)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Elizabeth Ruddick, A Comparative Perspective on Safe Third and First Country of Asylum Policies in the United Kingdom and North America: Legal Norms, Principles and Lessons Learned 40 Boston University International Law Journal (2022)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Deena Hurwitz, Teaching Human Rights: Practice and Theory (2022)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Palestinian Nationality and “Jewish” Nationality: From the Lausanne Treaty to Today, in Rethinking Statehood in Palestine: Self-Determination and Decolonization Beyond Partition (Leila H. Farsakh,2021)
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  • Susan M. Akram, UNRWA and Palestine Refugees, in The Oxford Handbook of International Refugee Law (Cathryn Costello, Michelle Foster, and Jane McAdam,2021)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Extrapolating Lessons from a Master Mentor: What Bob Burdick Taught Me 101 Boston University Law Review (2021)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Kevin Johnson, Race, Civil Rights, and Immigration Law after September 11, 2001: The Targeting of Arabs and Muslims, in Islamophobia and the Law (Cyra Akila Choudhury and Khaled A. Beydoun,2020)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The Past as Present, Unlearned Lessons and the (Non-) Utility of International Law 44 North Carolina Journal of International Law (2019)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Assessing the Impact of the Global Compacts on Refugees and Migration in the Middle East 30 International Journal of Refugee Law (2018)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The Search for Protection for Stateless Refugees in the Middle East: Palestinians and Kurds in Lebanon and Jordan 30 International Journal of Refugee Law (2018)
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  • Amicus Curaie, Submitted Susan Akram
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  • Susan M. Akram, Sarah Bidinger, Aaron Lang, Danielle Hites, Yoana Kuzmova & Elena Noureddine, Protecting Syrian Refugees: Laws, Policies, and Global Responsibility Sharing 7 Middle East Law and Governance (2015)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Karen AbuZayd, Denis Sullivan & Sara Roy, The Syrian Humanitarian Crisis: What Is to Be Done?, Middle East Policy Council's 80th Capitol Hill Conference (2015)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Closing Protection Gaps: Handbook on Protection of Palestinian Refugees in States Signatories to the 1951 Convention (2015)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Terry Rempel, Out of Place, Out of Time: Refugees, Rights and the (Re)Making of Palestine/Israel (2015)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Operation Protective Edge and Why Getting the Law Right Matters, Fall Abandoned Yet Central: Gaza and the Resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2014)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Tom Syring, Still Waiting for Tomorrow: The Law and Politics of Unresolved Refugee Crises (2014)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Millennium Development Goals and the Protection of Displaced and Refugee Women and Girls 2 Laws (2013)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The Legal Trajectory of the Palestinian Refugee Issue: From Exclusion to Ambiguity, in Palestine and the Palestinians in the Twenty First Century (Rochelle Davis & Mimi Kirk,2013)
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  • Susan M. Akram & S. Michael Lynk, The Arab-Israeli Conflict and International Law No. 13-11 Boston University School of Law, Public Law Research Paper (2013)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The Rights of Palestinian Refugees and Territorial Solutions in Historic Palestine, in The Failure of the Two-State Solution: Prospects of One State in the Israel-Palestine Conflict (Hani A. Faris,2013)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Aftermath: following the bloodshed of America's wars in the Muslim world 53 Race & Class (2011)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Michael Dumper, Michael Lynk & Iain Scobbie, International Law and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: a Rights-Based Approach to Middle East Peace (2011)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Do Constitutions Make a Difference in the Protection of Fundamental Human Rights? Comparing the United States and Israel, in The Dynamics of Constitutionalism in the Age of Globalisation (Morly Frishman & Sam Muller,2010)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Refugees and the Right of Return, in Encyclopedia of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Cheryl Rubenberg,2010)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Kevin R. Johnson, Chapter 5: The Demonization of Persons of Arab and Muslim Ancestry in Perspective, in International Migration and Human Rights : The Global Repercussions of U. S. Policy (Samuel Martinez,2009)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Myths and Realities of the Palestinian Refugee Problem: Reframing the Right of Return 8 MIT Electronic Journal of Middle East Studies (2008)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The Arab Charter on Human Rights 2004 24 Boston University International Law Journal (2007)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The Case for Palestine: An International Law Perspective 26 Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East (2006) (book review)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Are They Human Children or Just Border Rats? 15 Boston University Public Interest Law Journal (2006)
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  • Susan M. Akram & S. Michael Lynk, The Wall and the Law: A Tale of Two Judgements 24 Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights (2006)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Maritza Karmely, Immigration and Constitutional Consequences of Post-9/11 Policies Involving Arabs and Muslims in the United States: Is Alienage a Distinction without a Difference? 38 U.C. Davis Law Review (2005)
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  • Susan M. Akram, A Reading of the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Legality of Israel's Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories The Palestine Center: A Briefing Paper (2004)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Kevin Johnson, Race and Civil Rights Pre-September 11, 2001: The Targeting of Arabs and Muslims, in Civil Rights in Peril The Targeting of Arabs and Muslims (2004)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Terry Rempel, Temporary Protection as an Instrument for Implementing the Right of Return for Palestinian Refugees 22 Boston University International Law Journal (2004)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Kevin Johnson, U.S. Measures Against Terrorism: The Civil Rights Impacts, in Anti-Terrorist Measures and Human Rights (Wolfgang Benedek & Alice Yotopoulos-Marangopoulos,2004)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The Aftermath of September 11, 2001: The Targeting of Arabs and Muslims in America 24 Arab Studies Quarterly (2002)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Orientalism Revisited in Asylum and Refugee Claims, in Moral Imperialism: A Critical Anthology (Berta Esperanza Hernández-Truyol,2002)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Palestinian Refugees and Their Legal Status: Rights, Politics, and Implications for a Just Solution 31 Journal of Palestine Studies (2002)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Reinterpreting Palestinian Refugee Rights under International Law, in Palestinian Refugees: the Right of Return (2001)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Palestinian Refugee Rights: Parts 1, 2 and 3 Information Briefs (2000)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Temporary Protection and its Applicability to the Palestinian Refugee Case BADIL (2000)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The Right of Return: Palestinian Refugees and Prospects for a Durable Peace Conference Briefing Paper (2000)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Reinterpreting Palestinian Refugee Rights Under International Law, and a Framework for Durable Solutions BADIL (2000)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Fora Available for Palestinian Refugee Restitution, Compensation and Related Claims BADIL (2000)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Historic Court Decision Protects First Amendment Rights of Dissident Aliens BADIL (2000)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Orientalism Revisited in Asylum and Refugee Claims 12 International Journal of Refugee Law (2000)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Terry Rempel, Recommendations for Durable Solutions for Palestinian Refugees: A Challenge to the Oslo Framework 11 The Palestine Yearbook of International Law (2000)
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  • Guy Goodwin-Gill & Susan M. Akram, Forward to Amicus Brief on the Status of Palestinian Refugees Under International Refugee Law 11 Palestine Yearbook of International Law (2000)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Scheherezade Meets Kafka: Two Dozen Sordid Tales of Ideological Exclusion 14 Georgetown Immigration Law Journal (1999)
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  • Susan M. Akram, The World Refugee Regime in Crisis: A Failure to Fulfill The Burden-Sharing And Humanitarian Requirements of the 1951 Refugee Convention 93 American Society of International Law Proceedings (1999)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Traps for the Unwary or Major Issues on Judicial Review of Deportation Decisions Under the Immigration & Nationality Act Section 106 1995-96 Immigration and Nationality Law Handbook (1996)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Traps for the Unwary, or Major Issues on Judicial Review of Deportation Decisions under INA Section 106, in The Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook (1995)
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  • Susan M. Akram & Physicians for Human Rights, Medical Testimony on Victims of Torture: A Physician's Guide to Political Asylum Cases (1991)
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  • Susan M. Akram, Historic Court Decision Protects First Amendment Rights of Dissident Aliens 18 Immigration Newsletter (1989)
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In the Media

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  • The Cradle June 21, 2024

    Israeli War Criminals: Can the ICC Lock Them Up?

    Susan Akram is featured.
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  • UN Watch June 11, 2024

    Exposed: Francesca Albanese’s Global Influence Network Targeting Israel

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • BU Today June 5, 2024

    Is Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza? New Report from BU School of Law’s International Human Rights Clinic Lays Out Case

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • IPA Newspack May 23, 2024

    Israel Is Continuing Its Destruction of Rafah by Massive Bombing

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • Daily Free Press April 10, 2024

    School of Law Director Advocates for Palestinian Refugee Rights

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • The New Arab March 26, 2024

    How Palestinians Risk Massive New Displacement and Limited Access to Asylum in Europe

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • Electronic Intifada March 25, 2024

    Germany Next up to Face Gaza Genocide Charges in The Hague

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • Anadolu Agency March 14, 2024

    Israel Unlikely to Convince World Court It Is Complying with Gaza Ruling: Legal Expert

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • New Arab February 9, 2024

    How UNRWA Threats Underscore Palestinians’ Right of Return

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • Electronic Intifada January 26, 2024

    Special Livestream: Decision at the ICJ

    Susan Akram is interviewed.
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  • Open Global Rights January 22, 2024

    The Failures of the UN in the Israel-Palestine Conflict

    Susan Akram authors a piece.
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  • Republic World December 30, 2023

    South Africa Files Genocide Case against Israel over Situation in Gaza, Tel Aviv Reacts

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • The Guardian December 29, 2023

    South Africa Launches Case at UN Court Accusing Israel of Genocide

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • The Voice of the Cape July 14, 2023

    Israel’s Jenin Operation Amounts to War Crimes, Say Experts

    Susan Akram is quoted.
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  • Arab Center Washington DC July 13, 2023

    The Israeli Attack on Jenin: Legal and Political Implications

    Susan Akram speaks on a webinar.
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