Cambridge University loses bid to ban pro-Palestine protests on university sites

 

The university sought an injunction to ban protesters from entering key university sites

The University of Cambridge has failed in its attempt to secure a High Court injunction to ban pro-Palestinian protests at key university sites for five years.

On Thursday a judge granted the university a "very narrow and limited court order" prohibiting protests at a graduation ceremony this Saturday, but dismissed the longer-term application. Another hearing is expected at a later date.

The European Legal Support Centre said: "This is a significant victory – one that sends a strong message to other universities attempting to impose such draconian restrictions on freedom of assembly and protest."

It comes after Gina Romero, the UN special rapporteur for Freedom of Assembly, on Thursday morning urged Cambridge to refrain from "regulations that contravene international standards [on] human rights protection, and to stop harassing and stigmatising the university-based pro-Palestine solidarity movement".

Cambridge's application for an injunction this week followed  months of protests from pro-Palestinian students.

The injunction would have forbidden protesters from entering or occupying certain university sites "for a purpose connected with the Palestine-Israel conflict". 

Romero said universities must "guarantee and protect peaceful assemblies wherever they take place and regardless of their forms".

She criticised blanket restrictions on peaceful assemblies as "presumptively disproportionate".

Rights group Liberty also wrote in conjunction with Romero to the British government's universities minister, Baroness Jackie Smith, urging her to encourage universities to "respect and uphold students' right to protest on campuses".  (more...)

Cambridge University loses bid to ban pro-Palestine protests on university sites