England’s university students support legal action to remove Hamas from list of banned organizations        

LONDON, May 03 (YPA) – Student groups from universities in Wales and England have announced their support for a legal action demanding the removal of Hamas from the UK’s list of proscribed organizations.

A joint statement signed by 18 student groups stated that the inclusion of Hamas on the UK’s terrorist list has had a “chilling effect” on freedom of expression on campuses, describing it as being used to suppress pro-Palestine activities and stifle student voices opposing the Zionist occupation.

The statement noted that students at British universities have become subject to academic sanctions, visa revocations, and police interventions as part of an escalating crackdown on campus freedoms. They called for this issue to be viewed within the broader context of the shrinking space for free expression in the country.

The legal action to remove Hamas from the proscribed list is based on Section 4 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which allows individuals or groups affected by the designation to file a legal challenge to have it reviewed.

The petitioners assert that the ban disproportionately violates the rights of expression and assembly guaranteed by British law and the European Convention on Human Rights. They also believe that this decision hinders the chances of a peaceful solution, citing the experiences of countries such as South Africa and Ireland.

YPA