UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to the University and College Union (UCU) demanding the immediate withdrawal of a union lanyard featuring an inverted red triangle alongside the slogan “Stand with Palestine”.

UKLFI warns that wearing the lanyard may expose the union’s members to prosecution for terrorism offences, as well as causing significant distress to Jewish staff and students.

In a letter to UCU General Secretary, Dr Jo Grady, UKLFI explained that the inverted red triangle has become widely recognised as a symbol associated with Hamas, a terrorist organisation proscribed in the United Kingdom. UKLFI pointed out that the symbol has been used extensively in Hamas propaganda and operational communications since the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel.

The letter noted that the symbol has also been acknowledged by the Metropolitan Police as associated with Hamas, while Meta has prohibited its use on its platforms as a symbol supporting or glorifying a proscribed terrorist organisation. UKLFI pointed out that Jewish students and staff may reasonably perceive the display of the symbol as expressing support for Hamas or sympathy with its objectives.

UKLFI warned that the public display of the symbol may engage provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000, highlighting sections 12 and 13 of the Act, which prohibit the expression of views supportive of a proscribed organisation recklessly encouraging other people to support it and the display of articles in circumstances that arouse reasonable suspicion that a person is a supporter of such an organisation.

The letter also raises concerns under the Equality Act 2010. UKLFI argues that the wearing of a symbol associated with both Hamas and its threats against Israelis and Jews could create an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for Jewish people. It notes that universities and trade unions have legal obligations to avoid harassment of students, staff and members related to protected characteristics, including Jewish ethnicity and religion.

UKLFI states that it has received reports of significant distress caused by the wearing of the lanyard and says that UCU’s apparent production and distribution of the item is inconsistent with its stated commitment to tackling antisemitism.

In its letter, UKLFI has called on UCU to:

• Immediately withdraw the lanyard from circulation;
• Cease any further distribution of the item; and
• Notify members who have received the lanyard that they should stop wearing it.

Commenting on the matter, a UKLFI spokesperson said:

“Trade unions and universities should be places where Jewish members, staff and students feel safe and respected. The use of imagery associated with Hamas is wholly inappropriate and risks causing serious alarm and distress. We urge UCU to act swiftly to withdraw these lanyards and reaffirm its commitment to combating antisemitism.”