39th IIUM Convocation: Palestinian Master’s degree graduate, has mixed feelings

By Farihah Halim

GOMBAK, 26 November 2023: Asma Nedal Mohammad Daghles was happy to be conferred a Master’s degree at the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony, today. But she had mixed feelings about the achievement, as she expressed her worry about the safety of her family in Palestine, particularly her father. And this had been continuously running through her mind. 

The 27-year-old graduate, who is also a mother of a two-month-old baby, received her scroll for completing her Master’s degree in Islamic Banking and Finance at the IIUM. She had received her scroll at the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony that was held in the Main Hall of the IIUM Cultural Centre, IIUM Gombak.

œI am happy that I’m graduating from university, but at the same time, I’m very sad about the situation that has happened in Palestine, she conveyed to IIUM Today. 

Asmas father had been imprisoned in Israel since April 2023. Her father had been tortured and had been frequently transferred from prison to prison. Despite this, Asma and her family had remained informed about his condition. However, the current situation is extremely concerning, as the father is imprisoned in another place.  “Since the seventh of October 2023, we do not know what happened to my father, she said.

She also disclosed that numerous murders had occurred within the prison grounds. As a result, she was highly concerned about the condition of her father.

When asked about the people who motivated her throughout her study, she mentioned that her father was her primary source of inspiration. In her opinion, her father had consistently supported and believed in her ability to pursue higher education since she was a child. œTo me, my father is my hero, so I dedicate all my success to him, she stated.

In addition to her father, she mentioned that her husband, Mohammed Aqra, was part of her social support system in Malaysia, who assisted her in overcoming academic obstacles. She appreciated that she had the opportunity to get married in 2018 and come to Malaysia with her husband. œAfter six months of staying here (Malaysia) in 2019, I managed to continue my study at the IIUM, she happily stated.

Asma expressed her gratitude that, despite the life-threatening tragedy occurring in Palestine, her family members are doing their best to manage life with all the bad circumstances of the Israeli occupation and daily harassment. Additionally, she expressed her gratitude for being able to communicate with her family through WhatsApp application, except with her father.

Asmaa also stressed the point that despite being under the barbarian occupation in the West Bank, the people in the Gaza Strip are facing the prospect of dying every moment and have been living under this terrible Israeli invasion that consists of genocidal and ethnic cleansing in Gaza since the 7th of October 2023.

She encouraged other students, particularly Palestinian students, to continue with their academic pursuits despite the unfortunate circumstances prevailing in their homeland. For her, knowledge is one of the most powerful tools an individual could possess, as it would aid in achieving the liberation of the Palestinian territory. 

She conveyed her intention to return to Palestine to visit her family, but the current circumstances prevented her from doing so. She planned to remain in Malaysia with her spouse and pursue a PhD after spending time with her little one.***