Details of the protest march tomorrow...





 





 

From a group of concerned students and academics at the University of Nottingham.  

For immediate use, 23/05/08 FRIDAY

 

Academics and students demonstrate: Public reading of research material that lead to terror arrests.

 

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Outside the Hallward Library, University Park Campus, 2:00pm, 28/05/08.  Academics 

from the University of Nottingham will be doing a public reading of the research material that lead to 

the 'terror arrests' on campus last week.  The reading will be followed by a silent protest to the 

Trent Building.  There will be hundreds of students present with banners and placards, many who will 

gag themselves symbolically.  

 

Academics from the University of Nottingham will be doing a public reading of the research material 

that led to arrests under the Terrorism Act on campus last week, outside the Hallward library, 

University Park Campus, 2:00pm, 28/05/08.  The reading will be followed by a silent protest where 

students and academics will symbolically gag themselves to object to the attack on academic freedom.

 

A student and member of staff were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 on Wednesday 14th May, after 

university authorities contacted the police.  They were released without charge (1) six days later, 

after an intrusive investigation (2) involving their families, friends and political affiliations was 

carried out.  The arrests were in relation to 'radical material', which the individuals were in 

possession of for research purposes (3).  According to one academic, the police said the event never 

would have occurred if the persons involved had been: "Blonde, Swedish PhD students."

 

Vanessa Pupavac, a lecturer in the school of Politics and International Relations says, "We are 

greatly concerned by the disproportionate nature of the university's response to the possession of 

legitimate research materials. Both the individuals are unreservedly innocent and they and their 

families and friends and have been greatly distressed by the overzealous police investigation. It is 

crucial that we do not let concerns for security become the enemy of liberty and academic freedom."

 

A petition (4) is currently being signed by hundreds of students and academics worldwide, asking the 

University of Nottingham to guarantee academic freedom on campus for all staff and students regardless 

of their ethnic background or political views.

 

[ENDS]

 

Contact: Musab Younis: 078901018073, [log in to unmask]; or Sam Walton 07814683906, 

[log in to unmask] 

Notes for editors:

 

(1)   One of the individuals is yet to be freed as he was immediately re-arrested on immigration 

grounds.

 

(2)   Police cars rushed onto campus at high speed in the middle of the exam period. Eyewitnesses have 

reported hearing loud sirens. Several security and police vehicles, including a scientific support 

team, parked outside the main Trent building in the middle of campus. Students passing by had their 

bags searched at random. The homes of the arrestees' friends and family were thoroughly searched.

 

(3)   This material is widely available on the Internet, including on official U.S. Government sites 

that are commonly used for reading lists in the School of Politics and International Relations.

 

(4)   Petition text:

 

Protect Academic Freedom

On Wednesday 14th May 2008 two innocent members of the university community were arrested by police, 

under the Terrorism Act 2000. The arrests were in relation to alleged 'radical material', which the 

individuals were in possession of for research purposes. This material is widely available on the 

Internet, including on official US Government sites, which are used for reading lists in the School of 

Politics. It has become clear from statements made by the police and university that the arrests took 

place after university authorities contacted the police. There is widespread concern that the two 

individuals were targeted for investigation at least in part because of their ethnic backgrounds. The 

two were held for six days without charge whilst an intrusive investigation involving their families, 

friends and political affiliations was carried out. They were released without charge on Tuesday 20th 

May 2008. One was immediately re-arrested on immigration grounds.

 

We, the undersigned, believe that this incident constitutes a serious violation of academic freedom, 

and sets a worrying precedent.

 

We, the undersigned, demand that the University of Nottingham:

 

a)       Acknowledges the unreserved innocence of the student and staff member in question

b)       Apologises for the great distress caused to them, their families, and their friends

c)       Acknowledges the disproportionate nature of the university's response to the possession of 

legitimate research materials

d)       Guarantees academic freedom on campus for all staff and students regardless of their ethnic 

background or political views

e)       Takes steps to ensure freedom of speech and freedom of expression on campus

 

 



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