Harvard: Divest from Turkey and Egypt Now
The Issue
In July 2026, the governments of Turkey and Egypt barred a cruise ship carrying nearly 2,000 passengers from their ports for one reason: the passengers were gay.
Turkish authorities blocked the Virgin Voyages ship Scarlet Lady, chartered by Atlantis Events, from docking in Kusadasi and Istanbul. Their published statement said the cruise was chartered by groups whose behaviors “do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values.” When the ship rerouted to Alexandria, Egypt rescinded its docking approval overnight. Passengers woke to notes under their cabin doors. Egypt offered no reason at all. None was needed. Everyone understood.
This was state-sanctioned discrimination against LGBTQ people, carried out in public, without apology, by two governments. It sits atop a long record: Istanbul has banned Pride marches since 2015, and Egypt routinely prosecutes gay men under “debauchery” laws.
Harvard has been told, repeatedly and loudly, that when a state violates human rights, the university must not be complicit. Its endowment must not fund oppression. Its partnerships must not launder it. Its silence must not enable it. We have heard this argument in Harvard Yard for years. We accept it. We ask only that it be applied consistently.
We therefore call on Harvard to:
Direct Harvard Management Company to divest from Turkish and Egyptian sovereign debt and from state-controlled enterprises of both countries.
Suspend institutional partnerships, study abroad programs, and research agreements with state universities in Turkey and Egypt.
Refuse gifts, sponsorships, and conference hosting from both governments until each adopts binding legal protections for LGBTQ citizens and visitors.
If boycott, divestment, and sanctions are legitimate instruments of moral pressure, they are legitimate here. If they are not legitimate here, the university and its activist community owe us an explanation of which human rights qualify, and whose.
We have invited every Harvard organization that has endorsed divestment on human rights grounds to co-sign this petition. Their responses will be published.
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The Issue
In July 2026, the governments of Turkey and Egypt barred a cruise ship carrying nearly 2,000 passengers from their ports for one reason: the passengers were gay.
Turkish authorities blocked the Virgin Voyages ship Scarlet Lady, chartered by Atlantis Events, from docking in Kusadasi and Istanbul. Their published statement said the cruise was chartered by groups whose behaviors “do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values.” When the ship rerouted to Alexandria, Egypt rescinded its docking approval overnight. Passengers woke to notes under their cabin doors. Egypt offered no reason at all. None was needed. Everyone understood.
This was state-sanctioned discrimination against LGBTQ people, carried out in public, without apology, by two governments. It sits atop a long record: Istanbul has banned Pride marches since 2015, and Egypt routinely prosecutes gay men under “debauchery” laws.
Harvard has been told, repeatedly and loudly, that when a state violates human rights, the university must not be complicit. Its endowment must not fund oppression. Its partnerships must not launder it. Its silence must not enable it. We have heard this argument in Harvard Yard for years. We accept it. We ask only that it be applied consistently.
We therefore call on Harvard to:
Direct Harvard Management Company to divest from Turkish and Egyptian sovereign debt and from state-controlled enterprises of both countries.
Suspend institutional partnerships, study abroad programs, and research agreements with state universities in Turkey and Egypt.
Refuse gifts, sponsorships, and conference hosting from both governments until each adopts binding legal protections for LGBTQ citizens and visitors.
If boycott, divestment, and sanctions are legitimate instruments of moral pressure, they are legitimate here. If they are not legitimate here, the university and its activist community owe us an explanation of which human rights qualify, and whose.
We have invited every Harvard organization that has endorsed divestment on human rights grounds to co-sign this petition. Their responses will be published.
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Petition created on July 18, 2026