Exeter University allowing antisemitism to go unchecked on campus

Jewish students at Exeter University have been subjected to months of antisemitic and discriminatory treatment. This has included the disruption of pro-Israel expression, weekly anti-semitic, anti-Israel protests, targeting of Jews and denial of Hamas atrocities.

Following approaches from Exeter students, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) have now written to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts, to set out their concerns and to establish how the University will address them.

The problems at Exeter University have included the following:

The Jewish students have been obstructed in exercising their own freedom of expression to counter false information regarding Israel disseminated on campus.

The Jewish students were even told they were banned from receiving assistance from the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA), which provides leaflets and other assistance to counter misinformation and distortion regarding the Middle East.

This happened after members of the Israel Society (IzSoc) set up a temporary stall at the University to share information and engage with other students, in the hope of countering some of the misinformation and defamation of Israel. However, they were confronted by a threatening mob and screamed at in close proximity. Their leaflets were torn up and red liquid was thrown over their Israeli flag.

Campus security did not effectively intervene until they terminated the event early, and escorted the Jewish students off campus. This rewarded the anti-Israel protestors’ intimidation by curtailing the Jewish students’ freedom of expression.

Following this incident, Jewish students were told by a member of the University’s staff that they would not be permitted to represent CAMERA on the University’s campus or hand out leaflets produced by CAMERA.

Having given free rein to virulent anti-Israel propaganda, it seemed that Exeter University was now preventing Jewish students from countering it with relevant information that might help combat the antisemitism engulfing them.

The University has allowed weekly anti-Israel, antisemitic protests on campus since 7 October last year, which include students and lecturers, many of whom are affiliated with the Palestine SolidarityCampaign (PSC). The anti-Israel protests are extremely aggressive. Protesters shout “genocide”, “murderers”, and “from the River to the Sea”, and Jewish students feel nervous to go into public areas. It is now common for Jewish students to walk in groups and cover up any outward signs of their Jewish identity.
Although Exeter University has formally adopted the IHRA’s Working Definition of Antisemitism, Jewish students are blamed for the actions of the Israeli Government, and protestors call for the destruction of Israel and denounce it as a “racist endeavour”.
The hostility of the anti-Israel demonstrations is reflected by other events at the University. These include viciously antisemitic comments by PhD students in an online group; lecturers who describe the events of 7 October as “resistance”; and the denial of the atrocities against Israeli women.
Despite some efforts by the University to address their welfare needs and advice from Jewish chaplains and the Community Security Trust, the students remain fearful for their safety and wellbeing.

Viewing the students’ concerns through a legal lens, UKLFI’s letter to the University has drawn attention to

the prohibition of discrimination, harassment and victimisation by the University because of ethnicity, religion or philosophical belief under section 91 of the Equality Act 2010;
the obligation of the University to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and to foster good relations between persons of different ethnicities, religions and philosophical beliefs under section 149 of the same Act;
the requirement to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure freedom of speech within the law for students and visiting speakers under section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986;
offences under the Public Order Act 1986, such as threatening or abusive language (section 5) and stirring up racial or religious hatred (sections 18 and 29B)
the offence of expressing views supportive of a proscribed terrorist organisation contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000
the prohibition by section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 against public authorities acting incompatibly with rights under the European Convention including freedom of expression under Article 10 and the entitlement to enjoy this right without discrimination under Article 14
the obligation of the University to ensure that its students’ union operates in a fair manner under section 22 of the Education Act 1994; and
the University’s general duty of care to provide a safe environment for students.

UKLFI’s letter notes that despite nine University, Students’ Guild and Welfare meetings, actions taken by the University to date have not resulted in any real improvements, while the Jewish students’ own attempts to remedy the situation have been met with obstruction.

UKLFI has asked for urgent responses to a number of matters, including

confirmation that members of JSoc and IzSoc are not banned from receiving assistance, information and literature from CAMERA;
effective security when they seek to provide information about Israel to other students;
a statement condemning the harassment of the students who manned the stall;
confirmation that slogans supportive of Hamas (such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”) will not be permitted; and that
anti-Israel demonstrations will be located so that Jewish students do not have to pass close by.

Jonathan Turner commented: “We hope that the Vice Chancellor will agree that the current situation is unacceptable and will take the steps required to secure freedom of speech within the law for Jewish students and to prevent discrimination, harassment and victimisation against them.”

Exeter University allowing antisemitism to go unchecked on campus

Jewish students at Exeter University have been subjected to months of antisemitic and discriminatory treatment. This has included the disruption of pro-Israel expression, weekly anti-semitic, anti-Israel protests, targeting of Jews and denial of Hamas atrocities.

Following approaches from Exeter students, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) have now written to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts, to set out their concerns and to establish how the University will address them.

The problems at Exeter University have included the following:

The Jewish students have been obstructed in exercising their own freedom of expression to counter false information regarding Israel disseminated on campus.

The Jewish students were even told they were banned from receiving assistance from the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA), which provides leaflets and other assistance to counter misinformation and distortion regarding the Middle East.

Campus security did not effectively intervene until they terminated the event early, and escorted the Jewish students off campus. This rewarded the anti-Israel protestors’ intimidation by curtailing the Jewish students’ freedom of expression.

Following this incident, Jewish students were told by a member of the University’s staff that they would not be permitted to represent CAMERA on the University’s campus or hand out leaflets produced by CAMERA.

Having given free rein to virulent anti-Israel propaganda, it seemed that Exeter University was now preventing Jewish students from countering it with relevant information that might help combat the antisemitism engulfing them.

Although Exeter University has formally adopted the IHRA’s Working Definition of Antisemitism, Jewish students are blamed for the actions of the Israeli Government, and protestors call for the destruction of Israel and denounce it as a “racist endeavour”.

Despite some efforts by the University to address their welfare needs and advice from Jewish chaplains and the Community Security Trust, the students remain fearful for their safety and wellbeing.

Viewing the students’ concerns through a legal lens, UKLFI’s letter to the University has drawn attention to

the prohibition of discrimination, harassment and victimisation by the University because of ethnicity, religion or philosophical belief under section 91 of the Equality Act 2010;

the obligation of the University to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and to foster good relations between persons of different ethnicities, religions and philosophical beliefs under section 149 of the same Act;

the requirement to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure freedom of speech within the law for students and visiting speakers under section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986;

offences under the Public Order Act 1986, such as threatening or abusive language (section 5) and stirring up racial or religious hatred (sections 18 and 29B)

the offence of expressing views supportive of a proscribed terrorist organisation contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000

the prohibition by section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 against public authorities acting incompatibly with rights under the European Convention including freedom of expression under Article 10 and the entitlement to enjoy this right without discrimination under Article 14

the obligation of the University to ensure that its students’ union operates in a fair manner under section 22 of the Education Act 1994; and

the University’s general duty of care to provide a safe environment for students.

UKLFI’s letter notes that despite nine University, Students’ Guild and Welfare meetings, actions taken by the University to date have not resulted in any real improvements, while the Jewish students’ own attempts to remedy the situation have been met with obstruction.

UKLFI has asked for urgent responses to a number of matters, including

confirmation that members of JSoc and IzSoc are not banned from receiving assistance, information and literature from CAMERA;

effective security when they seek to provide information about Israel to other students;

a statement condemning the harassment of the students who manned the stall;

confirmation that slogans supportive of Hamas (such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”) will not be permitted; and that

anti-Israel demonstrations will be located so that Jewish students do not have to pass close by.

Jonathan Turner commented: “We hope that the Vice Chancellor will agree that the current situation is unacceptable and will take the steps required to secure freedom of speech within the law for Jewish students and to prevent discrimination, harassment and victimisation against them.”