Student receives death threats following university protests

A student at the centre of pro-Hong Kong and anti-Chinese communist party protests at a Brisbane university has received shocking online death threats against him and his family.

A STUDENT organiser at the centre of pro-Hong Kong and anti-Chinese communist party protests at the University of Queensland has received shocking online death threats against him and his family.

UQ philosophy student Drew Pavlou, 20, was at the centre of protests held at the St Lucia campus in the past two weeks, including one which turned violent after it was gatecrashed by pro-China activists.

Mr Pavlou was assaulted at the July 24 protest and had received hundreds of violent threats since, including death threats.

Messages seen by The Courier-Mail include one which threatens to kill him and his family via a hired hitman.

University of Queensland student Drew Pavlou with students protesting against the uni's China-aligned Confucius Institute. Picture: Liam Kidston

Another is a video of a man being shot with the message “you can be a person like him”.

“Images of me were circulated online, it’s really scary to be honest,” Mr Pavlou said.

“The threats against my family are the worst part, they are really hard to take.”

UQ declined to comment on Mr Pavlou’s situation specifically, but in statement said “safety is our number one priority”, and that the university does not tolerate violence or intimidation.

It also said support had been offered to affected students.

“We want all our students, staff and others to feel comfortable to go about their activities on campus,” the statement read.

“UQ believes in everyone’s right to free speech when it is lawful and respectful.”

Meanwhile, Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has urged UQ to ensure its controversial hiring of a Communist Chinese diplomat as an academic is in line with “Australian laws and values’’.

China’s Consul-General in Brisbane, Xu Jie — who praised “patriotic’’ pro-Beijing student protesters following the violent demonstration at UQ — has been appointed an adjunct professor of language and culture at the university.

Hong Kong democracy protesters have criticised the highly controversial appointment, which was not announced publicly.

Mr Tehan yesterday said the Federal Government “welcomes efforts by universities that strengthen our international relationships’’.

“However these relationships must be compatible with university autonomy, academic freedom, Australian laws and values,’’ he told The Courier-Mail.