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Update 8: Demonstration on November 29
Last Friday, the pro-Palestinian group Wageningen Encampment announced that a demonstration will take place on Friday 29 November, during which Mohammed Khatib will also speak online. We recognise that this leader of Samidoun is controversial. On Tuesday morning 26 November, we formally received a request for the organisation of a protest outside our buildings on the WUR campus.
We emphasise that this is a demonstration against WUR policies, and not a scientific gathering. This means that the right to demonstrate applies. We cannot and will not infringe upon this right. The right to protest is a fundamental principle, and also applies on our campus. It is allowed to be contentious, as long as this remains within the boundaries of the law. Consequently, the Executive Board of WUR has decided to allow the demonstration, outside on the event field between Atlas and Forum.
We are aware that some people are offended by the online presence of Khatib during the protest. At the same time, we want to be an open and safe campus where different opinions may be heard.
We want to stress that, just like anywhere else in the Netherlands, discrimination, incitement to hatred, and glorification of violence are prohibited on campus. This has been explicitly communicated to the organisers of the demonstration. Additionally, the protest must not interfere with education and research activities.