by Innes Paton & Soliha Akramova.
University of Aberdeen students braved the conditions of Storm Amy to protest the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) the night before.
Around 25 protesters gathered outside Sir Duncan Rice Library on Friday afternoon to condemn the IDF for blocking the humanitarian convoy headed for Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is, by its own definition, an attempt to break Israel’s siege and blockade on Gaza. Comprising of over 40 vessels and 400 participants from over 44 countries, it is an independent organisation not associated with any party or government. Instead, it runs on beliefs of “justice, freedom, and the sanctity of human life”. Participants included Greta Thunberg, the environmentalist turned human rights activist, and four Scottish nationals.
Protesters included UoA students and members of the Aberdeen Socialist Worker Student Society (ASWSS), Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), Palestine Solidarity Society (PSS), and the Students’ Union Black Asian and Minority Ethnic groups (BAME) forum.
Upon the protest’s commencement, Ludovic, a student and PSS member, expressed solidarity with the flotilla and demanded the safe release of the activists taken by Israeli authorities. In an interview with The Gaudie, he expressed the protesters’ goal to “heed the call” of activists around the world to “shut down Europe and maintain pressure on the Israeli government”. He added that “University of Aberdeen has investments in Israeli companies. In this very library, the cyber security system is run by a company that is entirely staffed by IDF veterans,” asserting “It is the normalisation and financial support provided by institutions like these that Israel feels comfortable in committing crimes against humanity.”
Another protester, who preferred to remain anonymous, called on the University to divest from Israeli apartheid and condemn the “flagrant violation of international law.” They expressed the need for more strikes for Palestine, to “block everything, like they have in Italy or France, and refuse to go along with the genocidal agenda.” Italian port workers and unions held a strike on October 3rd to block Israeli trade, with turnout in the millions. Similar protests erupted across Europe, with mass solidarity for the people of Gaza.
The protestor commented on Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela and activist on the flotilla. “Mandla Mandela, who has spoken at this University before, was kidnapped.” Mandela’s ship was intercepted in the early hours of Thursday morning. Last October, Mandela was due to speak at the University of Aberdeen, but he was denied entry to the UK. A video call was arranged instead to allow him to speak, however University officials withdrew permission for the broadcast to be screened prompting criticism and a rally on Elphinstone Lawn in defiance of the ban.
Matthew, a member of ASWSS, drew attention to Aberdeen’s history with the Mandela family. He told The Gaudie about the city’s condemnation of apartheid in South Africa, stating “the university was a massive hot spot for student activism against apartheid there”. He recalled when in 1984 Nelson Mandela and his wife were given the key to the city of Aberdeen and declared Free Burgesses of the city. He noted that: “This is something we really should be caring about even if it is doesn’t affect us directly.”
Natalia, a student at the University of Aberdeen, expressed similar concerns during her speech at the protest, questioning the lack of outrage and sympathy with Palestinians; “that is my question at the University today, as we ask them to condemn Israel’s violation of international law by intercepting the flotilla”. She told The Gaudie that the University could and should condemn the kidnapping of civilians on a humanitarian aid mission in international waters.
While the largest hindrance to the protest itself was the storming rain and heavy winds, it wasn’t entirely undisturbed. A passing library go-er cried “Terrorist supporters, Hamas supporters” along with a string of verbal abuse at the protestors.
Another issue spotlighted by the protestors was the lack of action taken by the University against Lewis Carty, a law graduate, as well as his younger brother, Chris, a business and politics student. The pair attracted criticism for controversial speeches about asylum seekers at anti-immigration protests in August. The protestors are calling for Lewis Carty to be stripped of the prestigious Cloch Quiaich award, and for it to be removed from display in the Taylor Library.
Responding for comment regarding the call for Lewis Carty’s award to be removed and for a response to actions of the IDF, a University spokesperson told The Gaudie:
“The University seeks to foster a culture of dignity, respect and inclusivity for all while recognising that a diversity of views exists across our institution. We acknowledge the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom within legal and ethical boundaries. However, this freedom does not protect hate speech or other forms of harmful or abusive conduct. We can’t discuss individual students however any incidents of this kind reported to us are treated with the utmost importance and investigated fully in line with our Code of Practice on Student Discipline.”
Israel has deported members of the Flotilla, who have said they had been harassed and treated violently by their detainers. Israeli authorities have responded and denied violation of prisoner’s rights, claiming that the accusations are false.