Live: Protest against professor and counter-protest on campus (ended)

Two demonstrations took place on the Woudestein campus on Tuesday. One was by pro-Palestinian demonstrators who demanded the exit of a professor, and the other was a counter-protest. For the first time since the start of the Gaza war, a relatively large-scale pro-Israeli protest was held on campus. EM followed the unfolding events live in this blog.

The pro-Palestinian demonstrators are directing their protest against a professor from the law faculty who recently made the news after a conflict with a PhD student from the same faculty. The PhD student’s contract was terminated after this conflict. The demonstration is being organised by, among others, the Muslim Rights Watch, which previously protested against the treatment of the PhD student by Erasmus University.

16.26 – Counterprotest disbanded

The counter-protest, which at its peak numbered around 150 people, has come to an end. The last counter-protesters have left. According to a statement from the university, most of the participants were from outside Erasmus University. On the other side, a handful of pro-palestinian protesters remain.

With this, the live blog by EM has concluded.

16.01 – 'Unwelcome opinions cancelled'

CIDI director Naomi Menstrum is also present at the counter-protest. “This is a case of antisemitism,” she says. “A witch-hunt is being launched against a professor simply because she holds a different opinion. That points to a broader issue: unwelcome opinions are increasingly being cancelled.” She also refers to the cancellation of a lecture by the Israeli sociologist Eva Illouz. “The Executive Board is turning a blind eye to these problems,” Menstrum believes.

15.41 – Demonstrators sing at the top of their lungs, separated by police

Demonstrators from both groups are facing each other next to the Foodcourt, separated by a line of police officers. They are singing as loudly as they can.

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15.01 – 'No "Jew hunt", but dismissal'

On the other side of the Sanders Building, things are much calmer. Around twenty people are taking part in the protest against the professor. “It’s Tuesday, our people are all at work”, explains Adil el Kanfoudi, spokesperson for Muslim Rights Watch, the low turnout. “We don’t want a ‘Jew hunt’ like the other protest claims we want, but dismissal of the professor who makes these kinds of statements”, says El Kanfoudi. He promises that Muslim Rights Watch will respond at a later time regarding the previously announced report to the police against the professor.

14.27 – Counter-protest picks up earlier

The counter-protest begins earlier than the main protest itself. Around 2.00 pm, over a hundred demonstrators gather on the square in front of the Spar, most of them older than the average student. Among them are several MPs, including Annabel Nanninga and Diederik Boomsma of JA21, Don Ceder of the ChristenUnie and Claudia van Zanten of the BBB. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal (VVD) also makes an appearance. A representative of the Jewish community in Rotterdam, former CIDI director Ronnie Naftaniël and a former lecturer at the university are among those who speak. Boomsma says he wants to organise a hearing after the elections. “Universities must explain what they have done to combat antisemitism at the university.”

12.56 – University condemns protest against professor

The university published a message to employees about the announced protests and is offering employees who feel unsafe the option of working from home. Also, the university disapproves of the protest against the law professor, because it is directed at a single person. “A demonstration targeting an individual jeopardises safety and does not contribute to the conversation we want to have as a university,” according to a statement published on the university’s website last Thursday.

The EUR is keeping a live blog on its website, which can be found here.