Protest Camp in the Glass Hall
On Wednesday (May 8, 2024), the university management ordered the pro-Palestinian protest camp set up by students at the University of Bremen to be broken up for security reasons: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/university/university-communication-and-marketing/all-news/details/universitaetsleitung-loest-protestcamp-auf-bleibt-aber-im-dialog-mit-den-studierenden
The reactions to this have been varied. The university management promised the students at the protest camp that it would position itself with regard to their demands. We would like to do so here.
The Students' Demands
The students' demands include that the university management take a position on political action, in particular on an immediate, long-term ceasefire and on the reconstruction and formation of universities in Gaza, as well as publish a statement of solidarity with the Palestinians and victims in Gaza. The call for solidarity is also related to the statement on Hamas' attack on Israel issued by the university management on October 10, 2023. In this statement, the university management endorses the declaration of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). Webnews: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/university/university-communication-and-marketing/web-news/details/solidarity-with-israel-university-of-bremen-supports-daad-statement
Statement of the University Management
The University of Bremen's Executive Board has no general political mandate. However, it has the right and the duty to speak out and advocate for universal values such as democracy, diversity, justice, and respect for human rights, above all on the basis of its mission statement. The university management's declaration on October 10, 2023 was made in the spirit of this objective. It does not, of course, constitute an endorsement of any kind to threaten or violate the human rights of others.
Our efforts to promote the aforementioned universal values do not stop at the borders between nations or population groups. The human rights of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are of course no less important than those of the Israeli victims of the Hamas attack.
“Our empathy and solidarity also extend to the civilian Palestinian victims who died at the hands of the Israeli military, as well as to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, who are in danger of hunger and partially cut off from humanitarian aid.” (From Jutta Günther’s (President) speech on January 29, 2024: https://www.uni-bremen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/universitaet/Rektorat/Fotos_Videos_Rektorat/Speech__New_Year_s_Reception_2024.pdf)
As a university that conducts research and is active in learning and teaching, the establishment and maintenance of free and democratic educational and research institutes – in Gaza as well as in other parts of the world – is a matter of particular importance to us. As the University of Bremen, we are particularly committed to diversity, equal opportunities, and anti-discrimination.
The political question of how to end the war, on the other hand, is beyond the mandate of the university management.
We would like to emphasize that in a time of increasing wars and conflicts and the associated polarization processes, including at the university, it is particularly important to us to cultivate respectful coexistence on campus. This explicitly includes our efforts to demonstrate human compassion and solidarity.
“We extend these to the victims of Hamas’ terrorist attacks and their loved ones, to those who are still being held hostage by Hamas. Our empathy and solidarity also extend to the civilian Palestinian victims who died at the hands of the Israeli military, as well as to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, who are in danger of hunger and partially cut off from humanitarian aid. Our thoughts are with those who are threatened by any form of attack to the foundation of universal values, rule-based public order, and human rights. They are with those who, as in the Ukraine, are leading a desperate war to fight against such attacks.
Our solidarity encompasses a steadfast rejection of intolerance and terrorism. We resolutely reject antisemitism in any form – and have no tolerance towards attacks on Jews. Our solidarity obviously means that we unwaveringly reject Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism in every form.” (From Jutta Günther’s (President) speech on January 29, 2024: https://www.uni-bremen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/universitaet/Rektorat/Fotos_Videos_Rektorat/Speech__New_Year_s_Reception_2024.pdf)
As the university management, we take the current situation, which is characterized by polarization and tensions, very seriously and would like to remain in discussion with the stakeholders who have spoken out.
