Melbourne University students plan pro-Palestine graduation stunt

Activists have urged Melbourne University students to wear keffiyehs as they graduate, sparking condemnation from the federal opposition.

Melbourne University students have been encouraged to wear traditional Palestinian scarves at their graduation ceremonies by 'unimelbforpalestine' group.

University of Melbourne students have been encouraged to wear Palestinian scarves at their upcoming graduation events this week.

In a “call to action” on social media, the ‘unimelbforpalestine’ group has urged students to “show (their) solidarity” with Palestinian students as graduation ceremonies begin on Monday.

“Show your solidarity with your fellow students in Palestine and wear your keffiyeh at the graduation,” a post on Instagram read.

“It cannot be ‘business as usual’ while the University of Melbourne actively participates in the genocide of the Palestinian people.”

The post also encouraged students to tag the university in photos of themselves wearing the traditional Palestinian scarf and use the hashtag #NoBloodOnOurDegrees.

The university’s rules state graduates are “not permitted to wear self-resourced regalia”, but rather only “University of Melbourne regalia” which includes a gown, hood or hat.

Opposition Education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson has written to the University of Melbourne’s vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell to seek “assurance” that no students will don the Palestinian scarf at graduation ceremonies.

“The opposition is concerned that university students are being encouraged to wear a keffiyeh as a symbol of protest when graduating which is not only provocative but raises serious safety concerns for Jewish students.

“Please advise the consequences for graduates who wear protest regalia including whether they will be permitted to graduate, and what action will be taken against those who seek to incite students to protest in breach of university rules?

“I seek your advice as to how the university is combating acts of anti-Semitism on campus and in connection with the university, as well as anti-Jewish and anti-Israel hatred which is fuelling anti-Semitism.

“The alarming increase in antisemitism in our community means many Jewish Australians are living in fear including university students. Numerous students have reported they are too afraid to attend university or display symbols of their faith. This situation is intolerable.”

Ms Henderson told The Australian on Sunday she is “concerned this type of protest activities could spread to other universities”.

Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said universities must send the message that “Jewish students count and deserve to be free of discrimination, intimidation and harassment”.

“This is a state of emergency for our tertiary education sector and a problem from hell that no one can run or hide from. Jewish students feel under siege and do not feel protected on campuses,” Dr Abramovich said.

“Our leaders need to take the high moral ground and declare that anyone who spews hate speech that incites to violence, that calls for the murder of Jewish people, that compares Jews to Nazis, that accuses anyone who supports Israel of being a criminal committing murder and ethnic cleansing, does not belong on their campuses.

“If they do not push back against this evil which is spreading like wildfire, this storm of anti-Semitism will engulf these educational institutions and will become normalised and accepted. I have already been contacted by parents asking whether their children will be harmed if they attend the University of Melbourne graduations, given that they have Jewish-sounding names.

“Another warned that if this tide of hatred is not stemmed, universities will be perceived as no-go zones for anyone who is Jewish or supports Israel.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the pro-Palestinian students have sided with “genocidal anti-Semites”.

“The context in which the keffiyeh is worn is important. This is intended to show support for the Palestinian ‘resistance’ as rape and mass murder were just committed in its name,” he said.

“This makes it a grotesque and hostile act not only towards Israel which won’t notice the pompous acts of privileged uni students, but to our community given that the land of Israel is an inseverable part of Jewish identity for virtually every Jew.

“There were no such acts of solidarity with the Jewish people as they suffered the greatest atrocity inflicted upon them since the Holocaust. There is no act of solidarity with the 140 Israelis still held captive by a band of rapists and torturers.

“These students have chosen the side of genocidal anti-Semites in the Jewish community’s darkest hour, and we won’t forget it.”

A University of Melbourne spokesperson said “since last Thursday, nearly 2000 students have attended graduation ceremonies. Four students have worn a keffiyeh scarf under their gown during the ceremony”.