Protesters allowed to march across Sydney Harbour Bridge
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Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Soas expels Palestine Society president Haya Adam after months of suspension
Pro-Palestine student activist Haya Adam has been expelled by the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) after a disciplinary panel determined that she had breached the university's code of conduct. Adam, 21, is the president of the Soas Palestine Society, and was one of the most visible participants in a 15-month-long student encampment protesting the institution's alleged complicity in Israel's war on Gaza. The panel decision on Wednesday found that Adam breached the university's code of conduct over her appearance in a video posted on 16 January to the student encampment's Instagram page. In the video, which remains on Instagram, Adam criticises a Soas student union co-president, stating that her tenure had 'only served institutional oppression', and calling her a 'careerist'. The university disciplinary panel ruled that the Instagram video constituted harassment, despite the student union officer in question herself refusing to call the post harassment in a recorded panel discussion. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Adam's case is the second instance of Soas expelling a pro-Palestine activist, following the expulsion of student Abel Harvie-Clark in December 2024. Prior to her expulsion, Adam had been suspended from campus for over a year over disciplinary charges relating to her pro-Palestine activism on campus. 'Soas have used me as an example to intimidate the rest of the student body' - Haya Adam A second-year law and international relations student, Adam had attempted to continue her studies online, but could not attend lectures and had limited access to university resources. 'Soas have used me as an example to intimidate the rest of the student body. But students will continue to rise up regardless, as there is a genocide going on,' Adam told Middle East Eye. 'To politically criticise an elected official is well within our rights to freedom of speech,' Adam added. 'It's absolutely ridiculous that criticising someone in a position of authority would result in an expulsion. That's a dictatorship at Soas - not democracy.' Legal case The Soas encampment is one of hundreds of student demonstrations worldwide protesting university complicity in Israel's war on Gaza, in which over 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Human rights groups, international law experts and a growing number of countries have labelled the Israeli campaign a genocide. Soas, which specialises in the humanities and social sciences, does not hold research partnerships with arms companies participating in Israel's war on Gaza to a similar extent as many other universities. How campus protests exposed the flaws in higher education diversity initiatives Read More » However, protesters have criticised the university's research links with the UK Ministry of Defence and Israeli universities, as well as its financial ties to banks accused of financing Israel's genocide in Gaza, such as Barclays. Soas took the student protesters to court in October 2024, obtaining a High Court injunction that prohibited demonstrations on university premises without the prior written approval of university management, creating legal consequences for non-compliance. Similar injunctions were filed by various UK universities, including the University of Cambridge and the University of Bristol. Adam was one of three named defendants in the university's court submission. Ejected from campus, the protest group now protests on a nearby pavement, where their demonstration has become the world's longest-running pro-Palestine student encampment. 'A grave mistake' Founded in 1916 to train British colonial administrators, Soas has in recent years gained an academic reputation as a hub of radical postcolonial thought. Since 2012, the university has housed the Centre for Palestine Studies, an academic department dedicated to studying Palestine. Adam says that she was initially surprised by the firm response to pro-Palestine activism she received at the university. Students launch 'Gaza40' campaign for Palestinian scholarship recipients who cannot enter UK Read More » 'I was under the impression that I'd have an anti-colonial education at Soas, and would have a place where I could speak out against injustices. 'I thought Soas would encourage their students to take action against these crimes against humanity - instead, they've chosen to punish their students.' Dr Grietje Baars, a Reader in Law and Social Change and an associate member of the Centre for Palestine Studies at Soas, told MEE that she believes the expulsion decision is a 'grave mistake on the part of the university'. But Baars added that she thought 'it won't have the effect the university is hoping it will have'. 'Our students are not afraid,' Baars said. 'They know that the genocide in Gaza and the situations in Sudan and the Congo are of the utmost importance and urgency and are intimately tied up with their chance of a liveable future: they're not going to be intimidated into silence.' 'I commend the students for their courage and perseverance,' she added. In solidarity with Haya Adam from @soaslibzone, I promised I would 🔥 my Masters certificate from @SOAS if she was expelled. They have chosen to unfairly punish her, so I don't want to be associated with a uni that markets decoloniality while punishing those who practice it. — Dr Asim Qureshi 🏞️➡️🌊🇵🇸🕊️ (@AsimCP) August 7, 2025 Adam told MEE that she plans to appeal the university's decision and continues to participate in protests at Soas. 'I will never stop what I'm doing, and the university will never silence or intimidate me because we're doing all of this for our Palestinian brothers and sisters,' Adam said. 'There is an intensifying genocide that has been going on continuously, so it's our responsibility and moral duty to speak up.' Approached for comment, a Soas spokesperson said: 'While we do not comment on individual disciplinary cases to respect student privacy, the past 19 months have seen hundreds of peaceful events, vigils, and protests take place on our campus that reflect a vibrant culture of free expression at SOAS. 'In a small number of cases involving serious misconduct - such as vandalism, exam disruption, and threats to staff - we have taken appropriate action to uphold the safety and integrity of our university. 'We remain devastated by the loss of life in Israel on 7 October and the ongoing destruction of Gaza, and we continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, as we first did in 2023.'
7NEWS
12 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Pro-Palestinian protestors head for Brisbane's Story Bridge Queensland Police mull permission
Pro-Palestine protesters are planning to shut down another major Australian bridge as rallies on August 24 are scheduled across the nation. Brisbane's Story bridge is set to attract thousands of people, and Queensland Police must now decide whether it allows the protest to proceed. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Pro-Palestine rally planned to shut down Brisbane Story Bridge. 'We are taking this protest to the Story Bridge to reflect the urgency of the situation in Gaza,' protest organisers Justice for Palestine said. 'This is the same bridge our Lord Major refused to light in the colours of the Palestinian flag, denying solidarity to a grieving community. This protest is a reminder that we might be the ones spared the bombs, but we are not spared the responsibility.' The protest is set begin in Raymond Park in Kangaroo Park, and move over the bridge, finishing up at Centenary Place in Fortitude Valley — these plans have been sent to police, who have been contacted by for comment. About 7000 protestors are so far expected to march on Story Bridge, but that could also be an underestimation — an unexpectedly large turnout on the Sydney Harbour Bridge last Sunday for the same cause demonstrated just how much bigger the crowd could get. NSW Police estimated about 90,000 people showed up in Sydney to march slowly in the rain, but protest organisers said that as many as 300,000 people attended throughout the day. While the protest went smoothly and without incident, Sydney authorities feared a crowd crush and initiated a last-minute operation involving a helicopter, loud speaker, and city-wide text messages, to turn the masses around on the bridge. NSW Premier Chris Minns said his government would examine whether a legal precedent has been set by the Supreme Court judgement that allowed the rally to proceed. Justice Belinda Rigg said the bridge would have been closed to traffic regardless of whether the rally was authorised or not, in her determination declining to prohibit the march. Rallies in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne are also being organised for the same day as the Story Bridge protest in Brisbane, by Palestine Action Group.
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Perth Now
Pro-Palestine protest planned for another Australian city
Pro-Palestine rally planned to shut down bridge on August 24. A pro-Palestinian group has applied to shut down Brisbane's Story Bridge for a large-scale protest planned for Sunday, August 24, mirroring the massive rally held recently on Sydney Harbour Bridge. Organisers from Justice for Palestine estimate that about 7000 people will march from Raymond Park to Centenary Place, spanning 1.5 kilometres. Queensland Police will decide whether to approve the event. A police spokesperson confirmed receiving the application and said it is under assessment, emphasising that 'the QPS recognises that every person has the right to peacefully assemble under the Human Rights Act and Peaceful Assembly Act.' While, Brisbane City Council opposes the protest. Premier David Crisafulli said the decision rests with police and stressed the importance of community safety. 'Shutting down a city is no way to endear Queenslanders to your cause,' he said. Justice For Palestine spokesman Omar Ashour pointed to the Sydney march turnout and rising attendance at Brisbane events to predict strong participation at the Story Bridge march. 'The Harbour Bridge rally last Sunday changed the tone in the media and in government,' Mr Ashour said. 'They realise they have underestimated the feeling in the community both here and overseas. It's only words so far, but the words from the government are starting to change. This is all a reflection of the genuine sentiment in the street,' he said. People, including Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and Craig Foster, march across the Harbour Bridge during a pro-Palestinian rally on August 03. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images Mr Ashour added that speakers, including current or former politicians, will address attendees at the end of the march. He acknowledged the march could take several hours to reach the CBD, likely causing significant traffic disruptions on the Story Bridge, a key link between Brisbane's north and south. Harbour Bridge during a pro-Palestinian rally. Credit: Izhar Khan / Getty Images Protesters in Sydney and Melbourne joined marches and actions globally, as pressure mounts on the Israeli government over a devastating humanitarian crisis. Credit: Izhar Khan / Getty Images Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg expressed concern the protest would exacerbate violence and anti-Semitism toward the Jewish community. 'It's not a great environment for Jews in Queensland or Australia at the moment and that's very sad,' he said. Mr Steinberg condemned the Sydney march as 'abhorrent' for its protesters displaying banners of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah symbols, and chanting slogans perceived as calls to expel Israelis from their land. Historically, Brisbane's largest protest was against the Iraq War in 2003, drawing around 100,000 people. The Story Bridge has previously managed large crowds, including 74,000 attendees during its 75th birthday celebration, spread out over several hours. The recent Sydney protest saw an estimated 90,000 participants, surpassing earlier expectations of 50,000.
