Censored: Palestine in European Academia

April 17 2024, 17:00 Palestine time

Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, many universities and higher education institutions across Europe have intensified efforts to repress Palestinian and pro-Palestinian voices, and censor critical debate on Palestine. This has included; the cancelation of events and lectures, the terminating of critical visiting scholars, threats to de-matriculate pro-Palestinian students, and the censorship of critical frameworks to understand the conflict such as Apartheid and settler colonialism.

These practices, and in some cases official policies, are not new to the European academic landscape, but have intensified in the last six months to reach unprecedented levels.

In this discussion, we bring together scholars and students from a variety of European universities who have been actively trying to organise on their campuses for Palestinian rights. We will have an open discussion on their experiences, the different (and often similar) tactics and narratives these academic institutions use in their silencing attempts, and discuss together what lessons we can learn, how to respond, and how to move forward despite the repression.

Invited Speakers:

Dr. Salman Abu Sitta – Palestine Land Society

Dr. Layal Ftouni – Utrecht University

Samirah Jarrar – PhD Candidate – Université Aix-Marseille

Klaudia Wieser – PhD Candidtate – University of Vienna

Moderation: Dr. Dina Zbeidy - Leiden University of Applied Sciences

Registration required:

https://birzeit-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpduqrrjkiHtLH6IxiB9pbsZBPs4o9DAS4