The article, titled “University Criminals,” in German newspaper Bild described the protesting students on Sunday as “rabble-rousers” and the professors allegedly supporting them, claiming that anti-Israel hatred is rampant at Berlin’s universities.
Humboldt University and Freie Universitat have reportedly removed the protesters and launched investigations into hate speech and anti-Semitic propaganda.
More than 150 professors were also reported to have signed an open letter in support of the students, but Bild labelled them “radicals” and accused them of promoting pro-Palestinian views. The article said:
“Some of the faculty members who called for more tolerance towards the protests are radically pro-Palestinian. Many of them teach Arabic philology, Islamic studies and ethnology courses.”
Freie Universitat’s administration said in a statement:
“We strongly condemn Bild newspaper’s defamation of some academics at our university. We are investigating the steps to be taken under the Press Law.”
About 150 students from the Free University organised a solidarity camp on 7 May in support of Palestine and in protest against German pressure on protesters. Police intervened and evacuated the camp, detaining many students.
On 3 May, police also intervened in a pro-Palestine sit-in in the garden of Berlin’s Humboldt University and detained a large number of protesters.
Following these events, many university professors signed an open letter in support of students participating in solidarity demonstrations with Palestinians and demanded that the police not use violence against them. It said:
“Regardless of whether we agree with the specific demands at the camp, we stand by our students and defend their right to peaceful protest.”
The letter also emphasises the importance of protecting freedom of assembly and expression, especially in universities.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that the number of people killed in the Strip as a result of Israeli military operations has risen above 35,000.
