Latest news with #ELSC
Arab News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
University of Birmingham students facing disciplinary hearing over pro-Palestine activism
LONDON: Two pro-Palestine students at the UK's University of Birmingham are facing disciplinary proceedings over their activism, with a major legal rights group sounding the alarm over a 'nationwide crackdown' on solidarity with the Palestinian people. The European Legal Support Centre submitted legal documents to the university's misconduct panel on behalf of the two students, Mariyah Ali and Antonia Listrat. Amid the war in Gaza and sweeping pro-Palestine solidarity at institutions across the UK, the two students had demanded that their university divest from arms companies supplying the Israeli military. Ali and Listrat face a disciplinary hearing on April 7, with the ELSC urging the university to dismiss the proceedings. Coventry MP Zarah Sultana labeled the university's move 'an assault on democratic rights,' while the decision was questioned by UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero, who highlighted 'harassment, intimidation and reprisals' against the students at the university. The pair have been supported by the university's student body, which elected Listrat as guild president and Ali as ethnic minorities officer. Ali said: 'The disciplinary process against Antonia and me is a blatant attempt to suppress dissent and silence the wider student movement. 'This authoritarian crackdown is not just an attack on our right to protest — it is a display of institutional Islamophobia and bureaucratic repression. 'The student movement for Palestine is stronger than ever. Instead of charging students, the University of Birmingham must focus on divesting from companies complicit in genocide and war crimes.' The student union also passed a motion supporting pro-Palestine solidarity that was subsequently blocked by union trustees. By taking punitive measures against the students, the university is 'contradicting the democratic will of students,' the ELSC said. Anna Ost, the center's senior legal officer, added: 'We are deeply concerned that the university's intention and effect in targeting these two students is to dissuade the wider university community from speaking out for Palestine. 'The university needs to change its approach, drop the disciplinaries, and demonstrate that fundamental freedoms are still promoted on its campus.' The targeting of the students is part a wider crackdown on pro-Palestine activism across the UK in the wake of Israel's war in Gaza. Since October 2023, at least 28 universities across the UK have disciplined more than 113 students for activism, a joint investigation by Sky News and Liberty Investigates found. The ELSC warned that the campus crackdowns, which have involved police and private security, is creating a 'chilling effect' that 'sets a dangerous precedent for campus democracy.' British universities are legally bound to protect freedom of expression under the education and human rights acts, it added, warning that the University of Birmingham is 'violating these obligations by penalizing students for their political beliefs.' The center called on the university to dismiss the charges against the students and uphold freedom of speech, expression and assembly on campus. Listrat said protesting is 'an integral part of campus life' that signifies a 'healthy and progressive society.' She added: 'As far-right rhetoric rises throughout the world, we need to make a huge effort to protect our rights and uphold international law and morality. 'Enabling genocide and profiting from human rights violations is quite a violent stance that the University of Birmingham has taken. Funding genocide is violent; protesting genocide is peaceful.'
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
University of Cambridge granted High Court injunction against protesters
The University of Cambridge has been granted a High Court order blocking Israel- Palestine protests on parts of its campus until the end of July. Last month, a judge dismissed a request by the university for a five-year injunction blocking direct action related to the conflict on several sites without the university's consent. The university returned to the High Court on Wednesday, asking a judge for a four-month injunction preventing protesters from disrupting multiple graduation events on two sites planned up to July 26, the final graduation ceremony of the academic year. The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) opposed the university's bid, with its lawyers telling the court the injunction is a 'disproportionate infringement' on the human rights of the protesters and would set a 'dangerous precedent' for protesting on campuses. In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Soole granted the injunction, stating there is an 'imminent and real risk of a recurrence' of direct action on the campus and a 'strong probability that this will otherwise occur' if the order is not issued. He said: 'I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction.' He added the 'proposed terms are the minimum necessary in the circumstances'. Lawyers for the university told the court in London that last year, pro-Palestine protesters staged demonstrations at Senate House Yard and Greenwich House, which 'forced' a graduation ceremony to be moved. Myriam Stacey KC, for the university, told the hearing there is a 'real and imminent risk' of further action on campus, with protesters saying 'we will be back' after leaving Senate House Yard at the end of November. She said the protesters appeared to be mostly affiliated with the group Cambridge for Palestine, whose stated aims online include for the university to 'divest from institutions and companies complicit in the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine'. She told the court: 'It is the activity we are seeking to stop, not the viewpoint. It is legally irrelevant who is doing this. It is what they are doing that we object to.' Ms Stacey continued in written submissions that the university sought to prohibit protesters from entering, occupying or remaining on the sites for direct action without its consent, directly blocking access to the sites, or erecting or placing structures on them, such as tents or sleeping equipment. Owen Greenhall, for ELSC, said in written submissions the university was discriminating against the 'race and/or political belief' of protesters as it was only after pro-Palestine actions that it began seeking an injunction, allowing other demonstrations such as those for Ukraine or industrial action. He said an injunction was 'not necessary' and would have a 'chilling effect on political expression at Cambridge'. But Mr Justice Soole said the injunction 'does provide a fair balance between the rights of all parties'. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the university said: 'The University of Cambridge welcomes today's decision at the High Court. 'We took this action to protect the right of students to graduate and to prevent access to buildings that contain sensitive, confidential information. 'This was never about preventing lawful protest. The injunction safeguards a very small part of the University estate from an occupation that would prevent graduations from going ahead. 'It also protects the right for our staff to work. Protests occur regularly at the university, including a rally held immediately outside Great St Mary's church during the last graduation ceremony while an injunction covering the Senate House, a few yards away, was in place.' Cambridge for Palestine said it 'condemns' the decision, which it described as 'a violent move to criminalise and police our movement'. Anna Ost, senior legal officer at ELSC, said: 'It is more important than ever to resist attempts to shut down protests for Palestinian liberation. 'The extent of the five-year injunction the university originally asked for demonstrated that they were seeking to restrict protests.' She continued: 'Instead of acting urgently to review their investments, the university has stalled and sought to silence their critics with this injunction. 'We remain deeply concerned about the broader trend of universities using legal measures to target solidarity with Palestine.' Ruth Ehrlich, head of advocacy and campaigns at Liberty, which also intervened in the case, said: 'Today's judgment sets a dangerous precedent which will severely restrict protest rights on campus. 'Students have long been at the forefront of movements for social change, whether in opposing apartheid or rising tuition fees. 'It is not right that universities are curbing students' ability to do so, and creating a hostile space for people simply trying to make their voices heard. 'We urge universities to allow students to speak up for what they believe in on campus, and to protect the right to protest.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Cambridge granted High Court injunction against protesters
The University of Cambridge has been granted a High Court order blocking Israel-Palestine protests on parts of its campus until the end of July. Last month, a judge dismissed a request by the university for a five-year injunction blocking direct action related to the conflict on several sites without the university's consent. The university returned to the High Court on Wednesday, asking a judge for a four-month injunction preventing protesters from disrupting multiple graduation events on two sites planned up to July 26, the final graduation ceremony of the academic year. The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) opposed the university's bid, with its lawyers telling the court the injunction is a 'disproportionate infringement' on the human rights of the protesters and would set a 'dangerous precedent' for protesting on campuses. In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Soole granted the injunction, stating there is an 'imminent and real risk of a recurrence' of direct action on the campus and a 'strong probability that this will otherwise occur' if the order is not issued. He said: 'I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction.' He added the 'proposed terms are the minimum necessary in the circumstances'. Lawyers for the university told the court in London that last year, pro-Palestine protesters staged demonstrations at Senate House Yard and Greenwich House, which 'forced' a graduation ceremony to be moved. Myriam Stacey KC, for the university, told the hearing there is a 'real and imminent risk' of further action on campus, with protesters saying 'we will be back' after leaving Senate House Yard at the end of November. She said the protesters appeared to be mostly affiliated with the group Cambridge for Palestine, whose stated aims online include for the university to 'divest from institutions and companies complicit in the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine'. She told the court: 'It is the activity we are seeking to stop, not the viewpoint. It is legally irrelevant who is doing this. It is what they are doing that we object to.' Ms Stacey continued in written submissions that the university sought to prohibit protesters from entering, occupying or remaining on the sites for direct action without its consent, directly blocking access to the sites, or erecting or placing structures on them, such as tents or sleeping equipment. Owen Greenhall, for ELSC, said in written submissions the university was discriminating against the 'race and/or political belief' of protesters as it was only after pro-Palestine actions that it began seeking an injunction, allowing other demonstrations such as those for Ukraine or industrial action. He said an injunction was 'not necessary' and would have a 'chilling effect on political expression at Cambridge'. But Mr Justice Soole said the injunction 'does provide a fair balance between the rights of all parties'. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the university said: 'The University of Cambridge welcomes today's decision at the High Court. 'We took this action to protect the right of students to graduate and to prevent access to buildings that contain sensitive, confidential information. 'This was never about preventing lawful protest. The injunction safeguards a very small part of the University estate from an occupation that would prevent graduations from going ahead. 'It also protects the right for our staff to work. Protests occur regularly at the university, including a rally held immediately outside Great St Mary's church during the last graduation ceremony while an injunction covering the Senate House, a few yards away, was in place.' Cambridge for Palestine said it 'condemns' the decision, which it described as 'a violent move to criminalise and police our movement'. Anna Ost, senior legal officer at ELSC, said: 'It is more important than ever to resist attempts to shut down protests for Palestinian liberation. 'The extent of the five-year injunction the university originally asked for demonstrated that they were seeking to restrict protests.' She continued: 'Instead of acting urgently to review their investments, the university has stalled and sought to silence their critics with this injunction. 'We remain deeply concerned about the broader trend of universities using legal measures to target solidarity with Palestine.' Ruth Ehrlich, head of advocacy and campaigns at Liberty, which also intervened in the case, said: 'Today's judgment sets a dangerous precedent which will severely restrict protest rights on campus. 'Students have long been at the forefront of movements for social change, whether in opposing apartheid or rising tuition fees. 'It is not right that universities are curbing students' ability to do so, and creating a hostile space for people simply trying to make their voices heard. 'We urge universities to allow students to speak up for what they believe in on campus, and to protect the right to protest.' The University of Cambridge has been approached for comment.
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
University of Cambridge seeks four-month protest injunction
The University of Cambridge is seeking a High Court order to block Israel-Palestine protests on parts of its campus for four year, pro-Palestine protesters staged demonstrations at Senate House Yard and Greenwich House which "forced" a graduation ceremony to be moved, university lawyers said.A previous effort to impose a five-year injunction prohibiting direct action relating to the conflict without its consent on several sites was rejected by a judge in European Legal Support Center (ELSC), which opposes the university's bid, said an injunction would be a "disproportionate infringement" on the protesters' human rights. The university's latest bid seeks to block protests on graduations planned until 26 Stacey KC, for the university, told a High Court hearing on Wednesday there was a "real and imminent risk" of further action on said the protesters seemed to be mostly affiliated with the group Cambridge for Palestine, whose stated aims online include for the university to "divest from institutions and companies complicit in the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine".The sought-after injunction is against "persons unknown", as it is impossible to know which individuals will take part in demonstrations in the future, Ms Stacey told the court it was the activity the university sought to stop, "not the viewpoint", and it took "an entirely neutral approach" aiming to "balance the rights of all students and parties". Owen Greenhall, for ELSC, said the university was discriminating against the "race and/or political belief" of protesters as it was only after pro-Palestine actions that it sought the injunction, allowing other demonstrations such as those for Ukraine or industrial also said the proposed injunction was "not necessary" and that the university "has not identified any serious risk sufficient to justify the extreme rights infringement now sought".The hearing, before Mr Justice Soole, is expected to conclude on Thursday with judgment given on Friday. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legal body worried by Cambridge protest injunction
A legal organisation that offers help to rights campaigners has criticised the University of Cambridge's attempts to prevent protesters causing disruptions. Last week, a High Court judge granted an injunction, applied for by the university, aimed at preventing pro-Palestinian demonstrators from disrupting a graduation ceremony. The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) has said the injunction the university sought was "broader" than comparable orders and would prohibit a "wide array of conduct". The university has said any claim that it was trying to "restrict protest" was "ridiculous". Mr Justice Fordham is expected to consider arguments about further injunctions at a future hearing. Lawyers representing the university made the application in the wake of protests in Cambridge following the outbreak of the current conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas following the latter's killing of 1,200 people across the border in Israel and the taking of 250 Israeli hostages on 7 October 2023. Pro-Palestinian campaigners alleged the university had not acted on previous agreements to review investments concerning the arms industry. The university said in response that it was committed to reviewing its "approach to responsible investment". ELSC appointed representation and wrote to Mr Justice Fordham to share its concerns about wider injunctions and he agreed it could "intervene" in the litigation. Grant Kynaston, barrister for ELSC, said it had only become aware of the university's injunction two days before Thursday's High Court hearing in London. In the ELSC's written argument, Mr Kynaston said the "scope" of the order the world-renowned university wanted was "broader than any comparable newcomer injunction in the university protest context". "It would potentially affect all those who manifest any speech action or belief 'connected with the Palestine-Israel conflict', whether or not in the context of protest," he argued. "It would cover highly symbolic properties in the heart of the University of Cambridge. It would prohibit a wide array of conduct, all of which is said to somehow ground a claim in trespass or nuisance." He added that "severe human rights and equality implications" were involved in the issues raised in the litigation and the issue "required determination" after consideration of "full legal submissions and evidence". Mr Kynaston said ELSC had "the legal and other resources" available to "assist the court". Yasser Vanderman, the barrister who led the university's legal team, said some "defendants" formed part of a "well organised" group with "strong and committed" views on the conflict. The university wanted "injunctive relief" to "restrain threatened acts of trespass and nuisance", he said. Mr Vanderman asked for an injunction to last five years - with annual reviews - arguing that given the "long-standing nature" of the Gaza conflict, such a time-frame was reasonable. A university spokesman said it was trying to protect students and staff. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Protesters barred from disrupting degree ceremony Students occupy building in Gaza war protest Why are Israel and Hamas fighting in Gaza? Cambridge University European Legal Support Centre
