STAFF and students at a Scottish university have accused bosses of trampling over their freedom of speech amid clashes over a pro-Palestine campaign.
A group of 523 members of staff, academics and students have signed an open letter accusing Edinburgh University of trying to “shut down” their campaign.
They have alleged that people involved in the pro-Palestine campaign on campus have been the victims of “racial abuse and harassment”, while efforts to hand out leaflets and put up posters have been frustrated.
The open letter alleged that security staff were “interrogating” PhD students in a “threatening manner”, claiming this had been “particularly” focused on those from ethnic minority backgrounds.
It also said that one member of staff experienced “repeated harassment and racial abuse” from a colleague but that the university dismissed the complaint.
Two student groups – which the letter does not name – are also said to have been threatened with “disciplinary action” because of posts they made on social media calling on the university to divest from companies linked with Israel.
Elsewhere, students and academics attempting to host a “tutorial reading group” had been blocked by university staff in charge of booking rooms. They also claim that posters calling for a ceasefire had been taken down.
The letter said the university’s behaviour was discriminatory and violated staff and students’ “legitimate freedom of expression and association”.
It added: “We call on [Edinburgh University] management to immediately cease all intimidation of students mobilising and raising awareness on campus in solidarity with Palestine. [Edinburgh University] management must change how it addresses Israel’s ceaseless assault on Gaza and its implications for students and staff.
“This means acknowledging the role of this institution as a contributor to the current violence through its refusal to confront its own historical responsibility for the continuing dispossession of the Palestinians and its current institutional financial support to the Israeli military operations.”
But the university has accused those involved with the pro-Palestine campaign of acting in a way that “fosters a hostile environment or that makes others feel threatened”.
An Edinburgh University spokesperson said: “While we appreciate the strength of feeling on the matter, and share the horror at the many lives tragically affected by the ongoing conflict, we have acted in accordance with our policies and procedures at all times in our engagement with our community on these issues.”
The university said it had taken an “active role” in supporting “those seeking sanctuary across the world” and had welcomed academics, one from Palestine, as part of its new “Displaced Scholarship programme”.
The spokesperson added: “It is disappointing then that, rather than working together to do what we can to support those impacted by the violence, we have been met with ongoing and increasingly escalated disruption to our services, which impacts fellow students’ studies and learning as well as our staff.
“While we see protests and other activism as very much part of the life of a University, we make a call for more respectful and appropriate engagement from those who have raised concerns, and we would welcome a positive dialogue about how we might come together to support those who have been affected by these issues.”
