Students from the Palestine Society at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) on Tues-day said the university had “suspended students following a rally in solidarity with Gaza”.
The SOAS Palestine Society posted to X saying, “URGENT: @SOAS 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.”
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.
On October 13 and 14, the statement said “students were suspended and given warnings through disciplinarians by the university” and said the action by the university demonstrated “a targeted act of political repression for those who stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people”.
“We 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,” it said.
The university’s 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’ right to protest and pressure the university to meet these demands.
Author and activist Fatima Bhutto condemned SOAS’ actions against students, saying on X, “I am so disappointed in @SOAS. I was always proud of being a @SOASalumni but not today. All solidarity with @SoasPalestine.”
Scores of Twitter users echoed similar condemnations, calling the university out for being “on the wrong side of history” and for being “alarming attacks on freedom of expression”.
Several SOAS alumnus tweeted that the university’s actions were “shameful” and at odds with its reputation for being an inclusive and regressive educational institution.—AFP
