Video shows students from around the UK complaining that their ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’ events have been banned
Middle East Eye has produced a video showing students from around the UK complaining that their ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’ events had been banned over antisemitism or public safety fears. The video provides an insight into the mindset of activists who appear to believe that the bans are politically motivated and an assault on freedom of speech, and who seem not to recognise any problems whatsoever with the events that they were planning to organise.
A number of universities have banned ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’ events over the last couple of week (though it is called ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’, the events tend to span two or three weeks).
The bans follow the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by the government following a sustained campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism, Sir Eric Pickles and others.
Minister of State for Universities, Jo Johnson MP, wrote to Universities UK earlier this month asking that all universities be conscious of the definition as ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’ approached. Universities have responded with bans on events that they feared would be antisemitic, extremist or dangerous to the public. This week the Prime Minister weighed in, calling on all universities to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism.
The bans came as Campaign Against Antisemitism released urgent guidance to students dealing with antisemitic incidents during ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’. Students with questions are very welcome to contact our specialist team by e-mailing [email protected].
