University granted four-month protest injunction

The University of Cambridge has been granted a High Court order blocking Israel-Palestine protests on parts of its campus until the end of July.

Last month, a judge dismissed a request by the university for a five-year injunction blocking direct action related to the conflict on several sites without the university's consent.

On Wednesday the university returned to the High Court to apply for a four-month order preventing protesters from disrupting multiple graduation events.

Mr Justice Soole granted the injunction on Friday, stating there was an "imminent and real risk of a recurrence" of direct action on the campus and a "strong probability that this will otherwise occur" if the order was not issued.

"I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction," he said.

He added the "proposed terms are the minimum necessary in the circumstances" and the injunction "does provide a fair balance between the rights of all parties".

The injunction prevents protesters from disrupting graduation events up to 26 July, the final ceremony of the academic year.

Myriam Stacey KC, for the university, told the hearing protesters seemed to be mostly affiliated with the group Cambridge for Palestine.

A spokesperson for the university said it welcomed the High Court's decision and it would "safeguard" its site from occupation and therefore the graduation ceremonies, while protecting the right for staff to work.

They added the action "was never about preventing lawful protest".

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) opposed the university's bid, with its lawyers telling the court the injunction was a "disproportionate infringement" on the human rights of the protesters and would set a "dangerous precedent" for protesting on campuses.

Cambridge for Palestine said it "condemns" the decision, which it described as "a violent move to criminalise and police our movement".

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