Latest news with #EuropeanLegalSupportCentre
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
University colleges seek injunctions over protests
Two university colleges are seeking High Court injunctions against pro-Palestine demonstrations after an encampment on their land over the weekend. On Friday, activists camped on Newton Lawn outside Trinity College and then moved to a lawn outside St John's College, a lawyer for the University of Cambridge said. The protesters left after temporary injunctions were granted on Sunday and Monday, meaning further protests could result in activists being found to be in contempt of court. On Thursday, Kester Lees KC, for the colleges, asked for the injunctions to be made final and to last 12 months, as protests were disruptive to students taking exams. In written submissions, he said the university was "concerned about the environment of fear and intimidation created by masked protesters". He said the university did not wish to stop all protests but added that "some chanting was directly aimed at disrupting the examination season". Instead he suggested other options, such as a march or online and writing campaigns. Grant Kynaston, for the European Legal Support Centre, which supports the legal rights of pro-Palestine activists, said the court action had been rushed and that more time should be given, during which further evidence could be provided. Mr Kynaston asked the court to discontinue the injunction. He said if it were to be granted, it would be an "exceptionally wide-ranging and uncalibrated interference" with the protesters' human rights. He also said there was a trend of higher education institutions relying on court injunctions as a first rather than a last resort for enforcement against protests. Judge Andrew Twigger KC is expected to give his judgement in two to three weeks, during which time the temporary injunctions will remain in place. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. University college to stop arms company investment University granted four-month protest injunction University condemns Palestine Action paint protest Protesters barred from disrupting degree ceremony University of Cambridge
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Cambridge University colleges seek injunctions over protests
Two university colleges are seeking High Court injunctions against pro-Palestine demonstrations after an encampment on their land over the Friday, activists camped on Newton Lawn outside Trinity College and then moved to a lawn outside St John's College, a lawyer for the University of Cambridge protesters left after temporary injunctions were granted on Sunday and Monday, meaning further protests could result in activists being found to be in contempt of Thursday, Kester Lees KC, for the colleges, asked for the injunctions to be made final and to last 12 months, as protests were disruptive to students taking exams. In written submissions, he said the university was "concerned about the environment of fear and intimidation created by masked protesters". He said the university did not wish to stop all protests but added that "some chanting was directly aimed at disrupting the examination season".Instead he suggested other options, such as a march or online and writing Kynaston, for the European Legal Support Centre, which supports the legal rights of pro-Palestine activists, said the court action had been rushed and that more time should be given, during which further evidence could be Kynaston asked the court to discontinue the said if it were to be granted, it would be an "exceptionally wide-ranging and uncalibrated interference" with the protesters' human also said there was a trend of higher education institutions relying on court injunctions as a first rather than a last resort for enforcement against Andrew Twigger KC is expected to give his judgement in two to three weeks, during which time the temporary injunctions will remain in place. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Middle East Eye
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK's St Andrews reinstates rector after dismissal for Israel criticism
The rector of St Andrews University in the UK has won her appeal after the institution removed her from its governing body for issuing a statement that condemned Israel's "genocidal attacks" on Gaza. Last year, the University of St Andrews removed Stella Maris from her position on the university court after its investigation concluded that she exercised "poor judgment" for sending an email to all students in November 2023 that called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza. Maris, who is an alumnus of the prestigious Scottish university, also called on students to condemn "practices such as apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment observed in the treatment of Palestinians". Following her statement, St Andrews launched an independent inquiry led by Morag Ross KC to "examine" whether Maris's actions and activities were compatible with her role as rector after the UK Lawyers for Israel group lodged a complaint against her. Ross submitted the findings from her internal inquiry to the university court, the highest governing body at St Andrews, in April 2024. She found that Maris's email had caused "anxiety and fear" among Jewish students. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Despite Ross concluding that firing Maris would be "disproportionate," the university court concluded that she should be removed from her position. But after a nine-month appeal, the university's chancellor, Menzies Campbell, ruled in Maris's favour and overturned her dismissal from the university court. Commenting on the ruling, Maris described her victory as a "surprise" as well as "vindication of my position [...] and a defence of the fundamental principles of free expression and democractic accountability within our universities. 'Universities must remain places where individuals are free to speak out against injustice, especially where that speech is grounded in humanitarian concern and moral conscience in line with the principles of international human rights," Maris said in a statement. '[Maris'] victory [is] a clear rebuke to the growing pattern of repression facing those who speak out for Palestinian freedom' - Tasnima Uddin, European Legal Support Centre 'I am grateful to the many students, academics, and members of the public who stood in solidarity with me over the past months. I intend to continue campaigning to ensure the right to political expression and academic freedom.' At St Andrews, the students elect the rector to represent and advocate for their interests. The position is unpaid and carried out voluntarily. Following her dismissal, Maris received support from students on campus and over 500 academics across 17 countries. Her supporters included the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), which provided her with legal support and helped fundraise for her appeal against the decision to fire her. Tasnima Uddin from the ELSC described Maris' "victory as a clear rebuke to the growing pattern of repression facing those who speak out for Palestinian freedom". "For 570 days, Israel has carried out a genocide in Gaza, targeting universities, hospitals and civilians, yet St Andrews chose to punish its rector for calling for a ceasefire," Uddin told Middle East Eye. "The reinstatement of Stella Maris proves that the attempt to quash this mass movement will not succeed and legal means will continue to be used." A St Andrews University spokesperson said: 'As the body that made the decision to dismiss the rector, University Court is carefully considering the chancellor's decision and taking advice from counsel. 'This issue was never about free speech and only ever about governance. Ms Maris remains rector of the university and has done so throughout.'
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.'
