{"id":15357,"date":"2023-10-18T08:26:38","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T08:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/uk-university-suspends-students-over-gaza-rally\/"},"modified":"2023-10-18T08:26:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T08:26:38","slug":"uk-university-suspends-students-over-gaza-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/uk-university-suspends-students-over-gaza-rally\/","title":{"rendered":"UK university suspends students over Gaza rally"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PEOPLE hold signs during a rally in support of Palestinians in Boston, Massachusetts.\u2014AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

LONDON: Students from the Palestine Society at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) on Tuesday said the university had \u201csuspended students following a rally in solidarity with Gaza\u201d.<\/p>\n

The SOAS Palestine Society posted to X saying, \u201cURGENT: @SOAS<\/a> University of London, renowned for its so called progressive politics, has officially begun taking steps suspending its own students following a rally in solidarity with Gaza. This is a clear act of political repression. Please read on and share widely.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The tweet said that on Oct 9, the Palestine Society and its student community held a rally in solidarity with the people of Gaza and that hundreds of students joined the demonstration.<\/p>\n

On October 13 and 14, the statement said \u201cstudents were suspended and given warnings through disciplinarians by the university\u201d and said the action by the university demonstrated \u201ca targeted act of political repression for those who stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe extend our full solidarity with Palestine and condemn the repressive actions taken by management of SOAS. We call for all students suspended to be allowed to continue their studies and attend lectures,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s Palestine Society posted the link to an online petition, in which it demands that the university drop all disciplinary proceedings against those involved in the protest, revoke the formal warnings given to Palestine Society Committee members and re-establish the right to protest on the steps of the main building. It also called on the Student Union to advocate on behalf of students\u2019 right to protest and pressure the university to meet these demands.<\/p>\n

Author and activist Fatima Bhutto condemned SOAS\u2019 actions against students, saying on X, \u201cI am so disappointed in @SOAS<\/a>. I was always proud of being a @SOASalumni<\/a> but not today. All solidarity with @SoasPalestine<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Scores of Twitter users echoed similar condemnations, calling the university out for being \u201con the wrong side of history\u201d and for being \u201calarming attacks on freedom of expression\u201d.<\/p>\n

Several SOAS alumnus tweeted that the university\u2019s actions were \u201cshameful\u201d and at odds with its reputation for being an inclusive and regressive educational institution.<\/p>\n

Massive pro-Palestine rallies have taken place in London<\/a> after Israel\u2019s retaliatory bombing of Gaza<\/a> in the wake of Hamas\u2019 shock attack last week, attracting thousands of protestors condemning Israel\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n

Palestine societies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Queen Mary, University College London and the University of Warwick were among those protesting against Israel, and demanding justice for Palestinians.<\/p>\n

The UK Education Secretary last week wrote to university vice chancellors asking them to deal \u201cswiftly and decisively\u201d with any threats to Jewish students\u2019 safety in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel and resulting Gaza blockade.<\/p>\n

Gillian Keegan claimed the government had seen evidence of support for Hamas, following reports that some pro-Palestinian student organisations had backed the group.<\/p>\n

In a letter seen by The National<\/em>, she wrote: \u201cFollowing the barbaric terrorist attacks upon Israel at the weekend, we are writing to express our deep concern for the welfare of Jewish students and to ask that you act swiftly and decisively against any threats, be they implicit or explicit, to their safety and welfare. \u201cWe have seen evidence of a number of student societies that support Palestinians sending out inflammatory messages that show support for Hamas, which is, as you know, a proscribed terrorist organisation,\u201d Ms Keegan wrote.<\/p>\n

The letter came after The Times<\/a><\/em> revealed multiple academics at Oxbridge and Russell Group universities had posted statements \u201cappearing to justify\u201d Hamas\u2019s attacks on Israel, with some facing investigation.<\/p>\n

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2023<\/em><\/p>\n