The University of Birmingham put out a statement on 9 February regarding “events on campus on 7 February”, asserting that it is taking “a swift review and investigation … including taking external advice”. The events in question were two separate protests in support of a ceasefire in Gaza – one organised by the Birmingham branch of UCU as part of the #StandWithGaza national workplace day of action (12:30-1pm), and one organised by a student group (1pm onwards).  

BUCU is deeply troubled by this statement, which due to the lack of specifics can lead to confusion about where the University senior management’s concerns lie. The statement is clearly designed to produce anxiety amongst all staff and student protestors regarding this “investigation” and any potential repercussions which may arise from exercising their right to peaceful protest. 

We dispute the assertion that the University senior management is committed to freedom of speech

BUCU has already challenged the University of Birmingham on its commitment to freedom of speech, after the University senior management cancelled a staff-student listening event organised by colleagues in law. As part of those conversations, it became evident that the University senior management had not updated its Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech, in line with the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. This calls into question any assertion that staff and students are supported by the University senior management to exercise their rights to freedom of speech to peaceful protest. We believe that the statement made by the University of Birmingham, that they have “established processes” to enable this to happen, is false. We continue to offer to work with the University management to co-create such policies and processes.  

The actions of the University senior management in cancelling a perfectly legitimate academic event by experts in their field, are sharply contrasted by the permission given to the external speaker Noah Shufutinsky.  

We unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hate speech

External concern around the student-led protest last week seems to have arisen from the fact a sign reading “Zionists off our campus”, which presumably referred to the speaking tour by Noah Shufutinsky scheduled to take place at 1:00 that day, was held up by several students. This was then tweeted by several external parties in a clear attempt to incite a furore. Whilst we recognise that this may be an uncomfortable slogan for some individuals with particular political beliefs, we have confidence that the majority of our community recognise the difference between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. We are alarmed that after the event was allowed to pass, with no intervention by the university managers who were observing the event, the University senior management now seem to be deliberately conflating anti-Zionist statements with anti-Semitism.

In this context, we reiterate the initial call of our vigil for peace, which was and remains “for immediate ceasefire, immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and the lifting of the siege of Gaza”.

We would question the need for an investigation, when senior staff were observing the event

Not only were both protests attended by numerous security personnel, the student protest was also attended by the University Head of Security; the University Director of Student Affairs; and the University Director of HR. If there was any behaviour that was problematic at the event (such as the chanting it has been claimed took place, in a pay-walled Telegraph article), then why was this not addressed there and then, if the priority is genuinely the safety of the community?     

We stand in solidarity with the students involved in organising the 1pm protest 

Whilst none of the BUCU committee stayed on for the 1pm student protest, we reject the notion that students should have to seek permission for peaceful protests, or that they should only be entitled to do so if they are a recognised student society. These kinds of spurious conditions are designed to create barriers to freedom of expression and deter individuals from engaging in activism on campus. The University senior management have stayed silent while tens of thousands of civilians, many of them young children, have been killed in Gaza, as hospitals and educational institutions have been destroyed, and shelter, food, clean water and all forms of aid for a large civilian population have been reduced to levels below that necessary for survival. Instead, the University managers have focused their attention on threatening staff and students who have chosen to speak out against the atrocities. We believe that the University’s claims to be committed to freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest are disingenuous, and run counter to the experiences of staff and students on campus. We continue to request that the University senior management provides an updated Freedom of Speech policy for proper consultation with the campus unions and the Guild of Students, as soon as possible.

BUCU committee, 14 February 2024