ProPalestine students in Australia call for repeal of IHRA definition of antisemitism

Muslim student groups and Palestine solidarity organisations in Australia are calling for the withdrawal of a new, university-specific definition of antisemitism over concerns that it will conflate criticism of Israel with hatred of Jewish people.

The coalition of 26 Muslim Students Associations (MSAs) and 35 pro-Palestinian groups said the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism “systematically criminalises Palestinian, Muslim and Arab students".

In a joint letter, they called for Australian universities to “rescind their adoption” of the definition. 

The groups said Australian universities should also undo the recent “anti-protest and anti-encampment/camping policies on Australian campuses”.

Crackdowns against pro-Palestine activists on campus in Australia are part of a wider attempt to stifle criticism of Israel in universities across Europe, the US and other western states.

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In Australia, measures taken by authorities include disciplinary sanctions against student activists nationwide.

At the University of Melbourne, students are subject to a Wi-Fi tracking policy, while the University of Sydney has restrictions against “political messaging”.

A member of Unimelb for Palestine (UM4P), who served as a primary organiser of the student encampment at the University of Melbourne, told Middle East Eye that the adoption of the IHRA definition is especially upsetting as it follows “a whole year of advocacy around Palestinian activism”.

The student said their activism included “raising awareness about the globally contested nature of the IHRA definition”.

A controversial definition

Widely adopted in universities across Europe and the US, as well as by some European states as a functional definition of antisemitism, the IHRA definition has been criticised as a means of suppressing criticism of Israel.

According to the IHRA, in instances of anti-Jewish hatred, “manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity”.

Another clause on Zionism that has drawn criticism from students and academics says: “All peoples, including Jews, have the right to self-determination. 

“For most, but not all Jewish Australians, Zionism is a core part of their Jewish identity. Substituting the word 'Zionist' for 'Jew' does not eliminate the possibility of speech being antisemitic.”

Anti-Zionist Jewish groups and human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, say the definition has been used to silence critics of Israel.

While not legally binding, when adopted by non-governmental institutions, the definition can be used to inform disciplinary procedures.

The University of Melbourne student, who chose to stay anonymous due to the risk of retaliation by the institution, said the adoption of the definition by Australian universities “completely ignores the safety of Palestinian students, of Muslim students, of any students wanting to protest for Palestine".

Universities Australia (UA), a body representing 39 of Australia’s 43 universities, has not yet responded to MEE’s request for comment.

On February 27, the body released a “Statement on Racism”, putting forth a “uniform definition of antisemitism” to be adopted unanimously by the affiliated institutions.

The Jewish Council of Australia, which describes itself as a “diverse coalition of Jewish academics, lawyers, writers and teachers” and was a signatory to the MSAs of Australia's statement, condemned the definition as “dangerous, politicised and unworkable” in a statement released immediately after the UA’s decision.

University of Melbourne Islamic Society member Maher, who requested that his surname be omitted, told MEE that the UA’s unilateral decision came despite repeated attempts by concerned students to speak with the university leadership.

He said the definition “not only denies freedom of speech” but also prevents students from Palestine from “identifying [with] Palestine”.

The adoption of the IHRA definition follows months of protests at campuses in Australia, including sit-ins at some of the country’s most prestigious universities.

A key demand within the student movement has been for universities to divest from Israel as well as from arms manufacturers involved in supplying weapons used in both its war on Gaza and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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