Gazan student awarded PhD posthumously by Morocco university

On Friday, June 7th, the PhD thesis of a Palestinian doctoral student, Hani Draoucha, was defended in his absence. Presented at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, the thesis discussed «Tax Evasion in Palestine».

The move was a tribute to Draoucha, who was expected to submit his PhD thesis before being killed in Gaza. The Palestinian student of Cadi Ayyad University left Morocco for Gaza to finish his thesis, only to be tragically killed during the war in Gaza.

Soutenance à titre posthume d'une thèse de doctorat en droit et science politique à l'Université Cadi Ayyad de Marrakech “L'évasion fiscale en Palestine” de Hani Draoucha, étudiant palestinien parti à Gaza après avoir rédigé sa thèse, il n'en est jamais revenu!

Paix à son âme! pic.twitter.com/mJm6nPljIa

— Rouissi Karim (@K_Rouissi) June 10, 2024

In a photo shared online, members of the committee attending the PhD defense wore keffiyeh scarves around their necks. This gesture showed support for the Palestinians who lost their lives in the war on Gaza and honored the memory of Gazan Hani Draoucha, who could not be present for his own PhD defense.

At the end of the PhD defense, Hani Draoucha was posthumously awarded a doctoral degree with high honors.