News
Update 8: Demonstration on November 29
The pro-Palestinian group Wageningen Encampment announced last Friday that a demonstration will take place on Friday, November 29, during which Mohammed Khatib will also speak online. We recognize that this leader of Samidoun is controversial. On Tuesday morning, November 26, we formally received a request for organizing a protest outside our buildings on the WUR campus.
We emphasize that this is a demonstration, including against WUR policies, and not a scientific gathering. This means that the right to protest applies. We are neither willing nor able to infringe upon this right. The right to protest is a fundamental principle, including on our campus. It is allowed to be contentious, as long as it remains within the boundaries of the law. Consequently, the Executive Board of WUR has decided to permit the demonstration, outside on the event field between Atlas and Forum.
We are aware that some people feel hurt by the online presence of Khatib during the protest. At the same time, we strive to maintain an open and safe campus where different opinions can be heard.
We want to stress that, just as anywhere else in the Netherlands, discrimination, incitement to hatred, and glorification of violence are prohibited on campus. This has been explicitly communicated to the organizers of the demonstration. Additionally, the protest must not interfere with education and research activities.