Academics pursue judicial review over cancelled Israel conference
4/2/2015
Academic organisers of a conference on Israel and international law will today launch legal efforts at the High Court, after the University of Southampton confirmed it was cancelling the event.
In what is being seen as an important test for free speech on British campuses, barristers acting on behalf of the organisers will this morning file grounds for an urgent judicial review of the decision.
The withdrawal of permission for the conference on the grounds of "risks to safety and public order" was first reported by the event's organisers earlier this week, and subsequently confirmed in a statement on the university website.
The university administration has been under considerable pressure from pro-Israel groups, who objected to the conference's subject matter.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/europe/17842-academics-pursue-judicial-review-over-cancelled-israel-conference
*Statement in support of the University of Southampton
** 900 names, including dozens from Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, and Ivy League schools
http://freespeechsouthampton.blogspot.co.uk/
