Being in a relationship with a woman and posing half naked in a myriad of Instagram photos is likely to get her honor-killed by a member of her own family.
Daily Mail Mashal Sherzad, 29, was fired from her position as the (DEI) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion manager at the University of Minnesota because of now seemingly deleted pictures, showing her posing in front of an Israeli flag emblazoned with swastikas that she claims to have accidentally uploaded onto her public social media.
Sherzad, who identified as Muslim, and who is in a relationship with a woman, began her role in October, 2023, and travelled to Barcelona to attend a pro-Palestinian rally just two months later.
She shared pictures of herself from the rally – including snaps of her posing in front of the swastika-embezzled Israeli flag (removed from her Instagram account).
She was removed from her DEI manager job for the university’s School of Public Health on January 16 after the Dean, Melinda Pettigrew, said her employment would create a ‘real risk of significant disruption.’
Sherzad has since filed a lawsuit against the school for violating First Amendment right to free speech – along with claims of discrimination.
View this post on Instagram
The activist showed up to the news conference in a tight bodycon dress with risqué cut-outs to make her case and beg for her job back. ‘I did nothing wrong. They discarded a proud Queer, Muslim, Afghan and SWANA woman,’ she has claimed. She has asked to have her job reinstated and is requesting over $75,000 in damages.
The 29-year-old model uses Instagram to share pro-Palestinian content to her 4,000 followers. Her biography section suggests she has worked for famed modeling agency Ford – and Sherzad has shared scores of photos of her striking good looks.
She appears to have modeled herself on Kim Kardashian, with one snap showing a collage of her face next to that of the reality star, who has long denied rumors that her looks are the result of extensive cosmetic surgeries.
Sherzad has posted videos of herself chanting at rallies in support of Palestine, pictures comparing Nazi occupied Poland to Israeli occupied Palestine and plenty of pro-Palestine infographics and protest pics.
She also uses shares an array of glamorous selfies, bikini pics, couples-content with her girlfriend Ralena Young, a restaurateur and glamorous photos from her endless travels.
‘I’m really, really scared for myself for many reasons,’ Sherzad told reporters inside the Coffman Memorial Union. ‘What happened to me was wrong, legally, factually, emotionally. It was horrifying for me, my family, and my loved ones.’
At the press conference, Sherzad fought back tears as she explained how the firing has affected her. What happened to me was wrong, legally, factually, emotionally. It was horrifying for me, my family, and my loved ones.’
Sherzad’s lawsuit against the university said she ‘posted the photographs on her private Instagram account, but unbeknownst to her, they were automatically re-posted on her Facebook account.’
The caption on said post was, ‘This is not a conflict. This is not a war. This is genocide’,’ Sherzad explained. A university spokesman, Jake Ricker, says the school doesn’t typically comment on active lawsuits, according to Star Tribune.
However, in a January letter School of Public Health Dean Melinda Pettigrew told Sherzad she respects employees’ rights ‘to comment on matters of public concern’ but ‘your conduct directly undermines your credibility in this role.’
‘I find that continuing your employment would create a real risk of significant disruption to School and University activities,’ Pettigrew wrote.
‘This is particularly true given the current climate around the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, within the University community and around the globe, and the highly inflammatory nature of the image you posted.’
During Friday’s news conference, supporters of Sherzad claimed that people who support Palestinians and speak out against violence against them are being unfairly targeted.
Sherzad’s lawsuit against the university said she ‘posted the photographs on her private Instagram account, but unbeknownst to her, they were automatically re-posted on her Facebook account.’
The pictures showing her at a December protest in Barcelona, Spain, have since been deleted from her Facebook.
‘My name is Mashal. I was pictured at this pro Palestinian demonstration, a peaceful protest, where many from all backgrounds and walks of life came together to express solidarity around the demand for peace and liberation of Palestine,’ she wrote.
‘This event occurred in Barcelona, off work time, and on a weekend. December 9, to be exact,’ she wrote on the GoFundMe, which has garnered $1,300 in donations. ‘I was pictured in front of a Jewish man we had been chatting with who was holding a flag of Israel, with two swastikas drawn on either side of the Star of David.
‘It was not my property. It was not the way I would have expressed my feelings of concern and anger towards what has happened to Palestine and its People,’ she further explained.
A university spokesman, Jake Ricker, says the school doesn’t typically comment on active lawsuits, according to Star Tribune. However, in a January letter School of Public Health Dean Melinda Pettigrew told Sherzad she respects employees’ rights ‘to comment on matters of public concern’ but ‘your conduct directly undermines your credibility in this role.’
‘I find that continuing your employment would create a real risk of significant disruption to School and University activities,’ Pettigrew wrote. ‘This is particularly true given the current climate around the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, within the University community and around the globe, and the highly inflammatory nature of the image you posted.’
During Friday’s news conference, supporters of Sherzad claimed that people who support Palestinians and speak out against violence against them are being unfairly targeted.
The executive director of Minnesota’s Council on American-Islamic Relations, Jaylani Hussein, has said: ‘The facts of this case are completely unbelievable. It is a dark day for freedom of speech.’
Sherzad vehemently denies any wrongdoing on her part and created a GoFundMe to ask for ‘financial resources’ amidst the legal battle following her ‘wrongful firing,’ according to the page.
On Friday, Sherzad’s supporters said they felt that she was being unfairly targeted for her pro-Palestinian stance. “The facts of this case are completely unbelievable. It is a dark day for freedom of speech,” said Jaylani Hussein, the executive director for Minnesota’s chapter of the Hamas-linked CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations).
David says
Regardless as to how the photos were posted, accidentally or on purpose, they were taken of her doing something that she knew was wrong. There are always consequences!
Andrew Blackadder says
So this fat Ass plastic looking muslim Lesbian supports the thugs that would rape her and then throw her off a Roof Top rather than support the Jewish Lesbians in Israel who march in one of the biggest Gay Pride Parades on Earth.
Let me guess.. Would she be safer and happier in Gaza than Israel?… Safer in America than Iran ?.
Common sense just aint common anymore.
PinkCadlac ~ All American / American says
Looking at first photo, I thought ‘that is no female.’ Subsequent pics possibly indicate otherwise, however… I just have to say. I’m not one to judge people by their looks. I mean… if you look the way you look because you were born that way, then you can’t help what God gave you. But this thing, be it male or female, is just incredible looking. I mean incredible in the bad sense. Sometimes you just have to look away.
As far as the employment nonsense goes. What the heck do people expect to get when they create a DEI category and then find whackos to take their money for playing the part? I feel absolutely NOTHING besides contempt for the virtue signalers who bring this crap on themselves. DEI ought to be renamed PITA (pain in the ass).
sixlittlerabbits says
What a disgusting piece of work. Her lawsuit should go nowhere.
BareNakedIslam says
Most CAIR lawsuits get tossed.
RealFreedomFighter says
Thank goodness.
Ray Jarman says
This female is despicable in both dress and actions. I also dare her to visit any major Islamic sewage hole, especially Iran or Afghanistan, dressed the way she has in these photos. It would certainly save the U. of Minnesota a lot of lawyer fees.
BLR says
hell that girl has broke all the rules for being muslim accept for that big ass for that them butt lifters will allow her in their club house … don’t ask don’t tell
Canuckguy NB says
Her lips are pumped up as well. How did this mindless wacko get that DEI job? And why the hell are there any DEI jobs to begin with?
BareNakedIslam says
Follow the money, the BIG money, from George Soros.
Martin fidal says
you would be shocked at how many muslim prostitutes there are
Caroleigh says
I swear to God, that looks like a man covering up his Beard. Might be a good Partner for bed springs White White House speaker KJ P