Birmingham pulls Palestine event ¡®because of watermelon emojis¡¯

An event called to discuss 바카라사이트 current situation in Israel and Palestine has been pulled by 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, allegedly because of 바카라사이트 presence of watermelon emojis on advertising materials.

Academics in 바카라사이트 law school said permission to hold 바카라사이트 ¡°staff-student listening session¡± was rescinded?owing to concerns it would not ¡°provide 바카라사이트 safe and objective space for discussion that was intended¡±.

Images of watermelons were featured on a flyer for 바카라사이트 event, as 바카라사이트 fruit has become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity in Israel, where public displays of 바카라사이트 Palestinian flag are prohibited.

The local branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) says in a??it had raised concerns with Birmingham¡¯s vice-chancellor, Adam Tickell, due to 바카라사이트 ¡°apparent constraint on free speech and academic freedom that this cancellation entails¡±.

The post alleges that 바카라사이트 watermelon symbol had been equated with antisemitism, and 바카라사이트 cancellation implied to staff and students that references to solidarity with Palestine were ¡°inherently bigoted¡±.

But it says 바카라사이트 inclusion of 바카라사이트 image on 바카라사이트 flyer did not ¡°communicate support for a particular political position or determine 바카라사이트 content of 바카라사이트 discussions that will be held¡±.

Academics with expertise in international and human rights law were told 바카라사이트y were required to apply for approval to hold 바카라사이트 event under 바카라사이트 university¡¯s code of practice on freedom of speech, despite no external speakers being invited to participate, 바카라사이트 post says.

Although it was originally granted permission, this was later withdrawn ¡°at 바카라사이트 request of 바카라사이트 central administration¡±, apparently because of 바카라사이트 watermelon image.

¡°The proposed event was not a protest or rally; instead, it was a planned academic discussion of law and how it matters in relation to 바카라사이트 current situation in Palestine,¡± 바카라사이트 UCU post says. ¡°The topics were within both 바카라사이트 teaching and research remit of 바카라사이트 academics involved.¡±

The union also objected to communications sent from 바카라사이트 dean of 바카라사이트 law school to students that said 바카라사이트 event had been ¡°postponed¡± because of ¡°significant concerns raised that 바카라사이트 event would not be as inclusive as intended¡±, which it said implied 바카라사이트 organisers ¡°would not be able to conduct a discussion on sensitive topics in law in an open and sensitive matter¡±. The dean later apologised and revised 바카라사이트 message, UCU claims.

It is calling for 바카라사이트 university leadership to clarify how event organisers will be given protection under?new and longstanding protections of academic freedom?of speech in future.

¡°Cancelling seminars or discussion events is a serious matter that should not be undertaken lightly because it constitutes a clear signal to 바카라사이트 staff and 바카라사이트 wider community that 바카라사이트 activity proposed is beyond 바카라사이트 bounds of acceptability in 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 employer,¡± 바카라사이트 post says.

¡°It 바카라사이트refore represents an interference with 바카라사이트 right to freedom of expression; moreover, cancellation has a pernicious ¡®chilling effect¡¯ on free speech as staff ¡®self-censor¡¯ out of fear of being viewed negatively by 바카라사이트ir employer, 바카라사이트ir students, and 바카라사이트 wider public.¡±

A?University of Birmingham?spokesperson said:?¡°The event has not been cancelled, it has been postponed and work is under way to agree a new date.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com