Latest news with #JusticeSoole
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University granted four-month protest injunction
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. On Wednesday the university returned to the High Court to apply for a four-month order preventing protesters from disrupting multiple graduation events. Mr Justice Soole granted the injunction on Friday, stating there was 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 was not issued. "I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction," he said. He added the "proposed terms are the minimum necessary in the circumstances" and the injunction "does provide a fair balance between the rights of all parties". The injunction prevents protesters from disrupting graduation events up to 26 July, the final ceremony of the academic year. Myriam Stacey KC, for the university, told the hearing protesters seemed to be mostly affiliated with the group Cambridge for Palestine. A spokesperson for the university said it welcomed the High Court's decision and it would "safeguard" its site from occupation and therefore the graduation ceremonies, while protecting the right for staff to work. They added the action "was never about preventing lawful protest". The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) opposed the university's bid, with its lawyers telling the court the injunction was a "disproportionate infringement" on the human rights of the protesters and would set a "dangerous precedent" for protesting on campuses. Cambridge for Palestine said it "condemns" the decision, which it described as "a violent move to criminalise and police our movement". Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. University seeks four-month protest injunction Protesters barred from disrupting degree ceremony University condemns Palestine Action paint protest Students occupy building in Gaza war protest Students occupy building in Gaza war protest
BBC News
22-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
University of Cambridge granted four-month protest injunction
The University of Cambridge has been granted a High Court order blocking Israel-Palestine protests on parts of its campus until the end of 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 Wednesday the university returned to the High Court to apply for a four-month order preventing protesters from disrupting multiple graduation Justice Soole granted the injunction on Friday, stating there was 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 was not issued. "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" and the injunction "does provide a fair balance between the rights of all parties".The injunction prevents protesters from disrupting graduation events up to 26 July, the final ceremony of the academic year. Myriam Stacey KC, for the university, told the hearing protesters seemed to be mostly affiliated with the group Cambridge for Palestine. A spokesperson for the university said it welcomed the High Court's decision and it would "safeguard" its site from occupation and therefore the graduation ceremonies, while protecting the right for staff to added the action "was never about preventing lawful protest".The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) opposed the university's bid, with its lawyers telling the court the injunction was a "disproportionate infringement" on the human rights of the protesters and would set a "dangerous precedent" for protesting on for Palestine said it "condemns" the decision, which it described as "a violent move to criminalise and police our movement". Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Cambridge bans pro-Palestine students from disrupting graduations
Cambridge University has been granted a High Court injunction that will ban protests from taking place at graduations this summer. On Friday, the university won a four-month court order blocking pro-Palestine demonstrations from certain areas of its campus until the end of July. It is seeking to prevent a repeat of the pro-Gaza protests that disrupted the graduations of more than 1,600 students last year. Last month, the institution was handed a temporary injunction to protect one weekend's graduation ceremonies but saw an application for a five-year order rejected. The new order will run until the last scheduled graduation ceremony for this academic year, which is due to take place on July 26. Twelve ceremonies will be held during that time. The injunction period will also cover the university's end-of-year exams, which take place in May and June. The Telegraph understands that Cambridge may return to the High Court at a later date to apply for a further injunction. In his ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Soole said that there was a 'compelling need' for the legal action because of the 'strong probability' that activists are planning further disruption across Cambridge. 'I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction,' the judge said. In documents submitted to court last week, Cambridge claimed that protesters were blocking the university from using its own land 'without any lawful right to do so'. 'They are doing so not just at great cost and disruption to the university, its staff, graduating students and their guests, but also at risk to themselves,' the documents read. Last month, The Telegraph revealed that the institution submitted court evidence claiming pro-Palestine protesters stole commercial secrets during a 15-day occupation of a key admin building belonging to the university. During the occupation of Greenwich House in November and December last year, members of the Cambridge for Palestine protest group raided locked filing cabinets holding highly confidential documents belonging to the university. Myriam Stacey KC, representing the university, insisted the latest injunction application was not intended to stifle pro-Gaza protests but to prevent disruption on campus. '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,' she said. The court case, which began on Wednesday, saw Liberty and the European Legal Support Center, two rights groups, intervene to represent pro-Gaza protesters at Cambridge. Liberty has described the university's application as an attempt to 'silence students and academics'. Ruth Ehrlich, the group's head of policy and campaigns, said Friday's ruling 'sets a dangerous precedent which will severely restrict protest rights on campus'. An open letter accusing the university's court action of 'an assault on freedom of expression' was signed by over 200 staff and 580 students. Cambridge for Palestine, which describes itself as a student-led activist group, also accused the university of 'attempting to destroy one of the strongest student movements for Palestine' ahead of the High Court hearing. A Cambridge University spokesman said: '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.'
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.
