According to university, media, and participant reports, the University of Durham "postponed" a debate titled " This House believes Palestinian leadership is the biggest barrier to peace” after receiving police advice and security recommendations.
According to reports, Pro-Palestinian protesters arrived at the debate's location to boycott the event.
The University of Durham stressed to the Jerusalem Post that the event will be rescheduled.
The university later released a statement, stating: "The event went ahead with the full support of the University, in line with our code of practice on Freedom of Expression.
"We were expecting a protest at the event, having been made aware in advance. We made appropriate security arrangements, taking the advice of Durham Police, to ensure the welfare, safety, and security of all involved and our wider community.
"The event was underway. In response to further intelligence and advice from the police about a risk to public safety, the University regretfully took the decision to end the event.
"While disappointed, the Durham Union Society accepted the reasons for this decision.
"University Security worked closely with Police to manage the safe dispersal of people from the Palace Green area. All attendees safely left the building within a short time.
"Durham University has repeatedly outlined our commitment to lawful demonstration, we robustly uphold freedom of speech, and we actively ensure the welfare, safety and security of all our community.
"The University will liaise with the Durham Union Society on rescheduling the event at the earliest possible opportunity and on providing a secure venue."
Durham University robustly upholds freedom of speech. On the advice of Police, we took the decision to tell the Durham Union Society to curtail and reschedule an event to ensure the safety and security of our community. Read our full statement: https://t.co/4zlxIjGBEW pic.twitter.com/BtJ0yHduFE
— Durham University (@durham_uni) June 7, 2024
The debate would have featured several experts, including Natasha Hausdorff of UK Lawyers for Israel, investigative journalist David Collier, and Lance Forman, a former Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament. The pro-Palestinian side of the debate would have been represented by Chris Doyle, the director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding; Dr Peter Shambrook, a specialist Middle Eastern historian; and Mohab Ramadan, a Durham University undergraduate.
Forman wrote on X: "I’m in Durham tonight to debate 'Palestinian Leadership is the biggest barrier to peace.' Only the University just caved into a fascist mob and "postponed" the debate at the last minute. Free speech died in Durham tonight! They’re afraid of hearing the truth."
I’m in Durham tonight to debate“Palestinian Leadership is the biggest barrier to peace”Only the University just caved in to a fascist mob and cancelled the debate at last minuteFree speech died in Durham tonight!They’re afraid of hearing the truth@uklfi@mishtal pic.twitter.com/FtvkQleWNN
— Lance Forman (@LanceForman) June 7, 2024
Hausdorff told the Telegraph that students attending the debate were locked inside by a “mob” of pro-Palestinian protesters, who formed a human chain around the building, however, no official reports from the police could verify this claim, and the University has denied it.
Collier later shared on X, "Last night I personally saw Durham students yesterday in tears and fearful for their safety because @durham_uni allowed masked thugs to cage them inside a room for two and a half hours. How is this allowed in the UK? Durham University should hang its head in shame."
Last night I personally saw Durham students yesterday in tears and fearful for their safety because @durham_uni allowed masked thugs to cage them inside a room for two and a half hours.How is this allowed in the UK?Durham University should hang its head in shame.
— David Collier (@mishtal) June 8, 2024
The Durham Students for Palestine group condemned the choice of speakers and accused the university of allowing the Union to become “a Zionist mouthpiece.”
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The Free Speech Union strongly criticized the university's response to the debate, writing on X that "At the FSU, we're shocked but not surprised. We keep a league table of the universities with the worst record of defending free speech, and Durham is at the top. We've had to defend more students and staff at Durham than any other university in the UK.
Last night a mob of pro-Palestinian protesters won a dismal victory at Durham University, exercising a 'heckler's veto' to force cancellation of a debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.The debate, titled "This house believes Palestinian leadership is the biggest barrier… pic.twitter.com/R5hD90U2Ac
— The Free Speech Union (@SpeechUnion) June 8, 2024
"What happened at Durham provides yet more evidence that we desperately need the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act — which the FSU campaigned for — to come into force on 1st August as planned and impose a long overdue legal duty on higher education providers in England to uphold and actively promote free speech on campus."