Pro-Palestine protests taking place on university campuses are “at risk of being interpreted as support for the actions that Hamas committed on October 7th”, the chief executive of Universities UK has told Sky News.
Vivienne Stern, who leads the body representing 141 British universities, said that while protests against the war in Gaza have been a “frequent feature of campus life” in the last two years, “protesting on this particular day means something different”, and could breach the law.
The prime minister and education secretary both appealed to the public not to protest today, which is the second anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks on Israel that saw over 1,200 people killed and 251 taken hostage.
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Sir Keir Starmer wrote in The Times that the planned demonstrations showed a lack of respect for others, saying previous rallies had been used by some as a “despicable excuse to attack British Jews”.
But students defied his calls, and protests in support of the Palestinian cause and against Israel have been taking place on campuses across the country.
At a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: “I think the idea that anybody can celebrate what happened on October 7 is utterly abhorrent, it’s disgusting, it has no place in our universities.
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“I am absolutely clear that if there are protests or celebrations of this sort, I think it breaks existing laws. We don’t need new laws, we need existing laws to be put in place. The police and universities need to be really hard on this.”
The chief executive of Universities UK, Vivienne Stern, later suggested that she agreed with Ms Trott, and speaking to Sky News after the event, she said: “Pro-Palestinian protests have been a very frequent feature of campus life in the last two years. But protesting on this particular day means something different.
“And what we’ve asked people to do who may feel very strongly that they want to express support for Palestinians, to express their distress about what’s happened in Gaza, should nonetheless understand that doing so today, on the anniversary of a huge atrocity will be interpreted as, or at least is at risk of being interpreted as, support for the actions that Hamas committed on October 7th. And that is quite different.”
Ms Stern emphasised that “if somebody expresses support for Hamas, they’re committing an offence under the Terrorism Act”.
She went on to explain that universities have stepped up security ahead of these protests today, issued body-worn cameras so guards can “record what is said and by whom”, and warnings have been issued by vice-chancellors.
Asked if, given the potential for breaches of the law, universities have an obligation to stop the protests, Ms Stern said: “Universities are bound by law to protect and indeed promote free speech, which generally means that they’re under obligations to facilitate protest.
“The Office of Students in England has issued guidance which does make clear that they think even within that, there can be restrictions on the expressions of lawful views, so protests which don’t step over that legal line, where the time, place or manner that that protest infringes somebody else’s rights.”
She added that it “may be a subjective judgement”, and is something that is likely going to be decided through case law.
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Sky News contacted the Department for Education for a response to the comments by Ms Stern. In a statement issued yesterday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “The horrific tragedy in Manchester makes clear now more than ever that there is absolutely no place for antisemitic abuse or harassment, hate speech or violence in our society.
“I am a passionate believer that everyone is entitled to their political opinions, but any campaigning action must be conducted lawfully.
“I would urge those planning to protest to show decency and humanity when deciding whether to do so, given the immense pain many people in the Jewish community will be feeling on October 7th.
“I remain steadfast in my support for university vice-chancellors in tackling the scourge of antisemitic abuse and harassment on campuses, and I have written to them in support of their efforts.”
The Home Office has also been contacted for comment.
