Palestinian activism and freedom of expression at SOAS

We want to make clear that we do not and have never expelled or disciplined students for pro-Palestinian views or protests. 

While we cannot comment on individual disciplinary cases to respect student privacy, the past 19 months have seen hundreds of peaceful events, vigils, and protests take place on our campus that reflect a vibrant culture of free expression at SOAS. 

In a small number of cases involving serious misconduct - such as vandalism, exam disruption, and threats to staff - we have taken appropriate action to uphold the safety and integrity of our university. 

We remain devastated by the loss of life in Israel on 7 October and the ongoing destruction of Gaza, and we continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, as we first did in 2023.

Freedom of expression underpins every aspect of our community of students and scholars. We have written about the work of our colleagues in the last 19 months to create an environment where freedom of expression can flourish in a blog on the SOAS website.