On Friday afternoon 11 April, over a hundred Muslim students protested at the University of Sydney, after they allowed Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldiers to hold “interfaith panel discussion[s]” on their campus a week prior.
The protest was organised after pro-Israel organisations, Stand With Us Australia and ISRAELI-is, promoted their panel discussion event with speakers from IDF military backgrounds to “discuss the importance of social cohesion,” set to take place on university campuses across Australia, including Australian National University and Monash University.
In an open letter to Vice Chancellor Attila Brungs, the UNSW Muslim Students Association said that the event “legitimises violence and international law violations,” citing that Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and his military has been investigated of alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Other universities submitted similar letters and petitions demanding the events be cancelled, signed by hundreds of students and staff.
Despite this, most universities allowed the event to take place, leading outraged students to rally on USYD’s campus.
Protesters gather after Jumu’ah prayer
The rally began at 1:50pm as protestors chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” before marching to the Michael Spence building, where IDF soldiers were present just a week prior.
Muslim students gather at USYD Quadrangle waving Palestine and Shahada flags while Haroun Kanj speaks to protestors on their role in holding university authorities accountable. [Photo by Clara Athifa]
Speaker Abdullah Ali, President of SUMSA in 2024, questioned whether “Islamophobia [is] a genuine concern or political convenience,” calling the university’s commitment to Islamophobia “hypocritical.”
He revealed a bomb threat that was made to SUMSA’s prayer space months prior and the Head Executive’s “sympathetic” response of sending a bomb squad to investigate, yet at the same time “invit[ing] people who are part of an entity that’s responsible for bombing mosques onto the campus.”
Protestors march from Quadrangle towards Michael Spence building chanting “Free, free Palestine” and other pro-Palestine chants. [Photo by Clara Athifa]
In an interview with Vice President of SUMSA, Danielle Rifahi said the two main reasons for the protest were USYD’s failure to uphold their encampment agreement, which included their promise to release a public statement in support of a ceasefire, prior to Israel’s ceasefire announcement on 19 January 2025, and for allowing IDF soldiers onto campus.
Rifahi proposes that USYD must follow through with the encampment agreement and divest from weapons companies that provide arms to Israel, such as Thales.
She hopes that the protest “encourage[s] everyone… to make a difference…whether it’s donating a dollar, joining a protest, [or] using their social media accounts to advocate.”
The protest at USYD is part of a growing wave of student-led activism demanding stronger institutional accountability amid Israeli’s military campaign in Palestine.
Comments