Cambridge University was yesterday granted a High Court injunction that will block pro-Palestine protests at graduations this summer.
It won a four-month order barring the demonstrations from certain parts of its campus until the end of July.
The move comes after pro-Gaza protests caused widespread disruption to the graduation ceremonies of more than 1,600 students last year.
Last month, a judge dismissed a request by Cambridge University for a five-year injunction blocking direct action related to the conflict on several sites without the university’s consent.
But it returned to the High Court on Wednesday, asking a judge for a four-month injunction preventing protesters from disrupting multiple graduation events on two sites planned up to July 26, the final graduation ceremony of the academic year.
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) opposed the university’s bid, with its lawyers telling the court the injunction is a ‘disproportionate infringement’ on the human rights of the protesters and would set a ‘dangerous precedent’ for protesting on campuses.
But, in a ruling yesterday, Mr Justice Soole granted the injunction, stating there is an ‘imminent and real risk of a recurrence’ of direct action on the campus and a ‘strong probability that this will otherwise occur’ if the order is not issued.
Cambridge University was yesterday granted a High Court injunction that will block pro-Palestine protests at graduations this summer. Pictured: An encampment outside the Senet House in Cambridge set up by Cambridge for Palestine group last year
The move comes after pro-Gaza protests caused widespread disruption to the graduation ceremonies of more than 1,600 students last year. Pictured: Protesters marching from the camp outside King’s college to The Old Schools University offices
Last month, a judge dismissed a request by Cambridge for a five-year injunction. The European Legal Support Centre opposed the move for a four-month injunction, saying it was a ‘disproportionate infringement’ on the human rights of protesters. Pictured: King’s College Cambridge
He said: ‘I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction.’
Following the ruling, a spokesman for the university said: ‘The University of Cambridge welcomes today’s decision at the High Court.
‘We took this action to protect the right of students to graduate and to prevent access to buildings that contain sensitive, confidential information.
‘This was never about preventing lawful protest. The injunction safeguards a very small part of the University estate from an occupation that would prevent graduations from going ahead.
‘It also protects the right for our staff to work. Protests occur regularly at the university, including a rally held immediately outside Great St Mary’s church during the last graduation ceremony while an injunction covering the Senate House, a few yards away, was in place.’
Cambridge for Palestine said it ‘condemns’ the decision, which it described as ‘a violent move to criminalise and police our movement’.
Anna Ost, senior legal officer at ELSC, said: ‘It is more important than ever to resist attempts to shut down protests for Palestinian liberation.
‘Instead of acting urgently to review their investments, the university has stalled and sought to silence their critics with this injunction.’
