Human Rights Watch: The reaction of American university presidents to the protests is very harsh

The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch confirmed that the response to the student demonstrations in support of Palestine was extremely harsh on the part of the university authorities, and deprived the participants of the right to peaceful protest.

The organization said in a statement, "The reactions of some university presidents to the pro-Palestine protests were shocking. These are the people who should encourage learning and debate, and encourage the next generation to defend their beliefs in an atmosphere of respect for basic freedoms."

The statement added: “Instead of respecting basic freedoms, they have responded with harsh measures at institutions such as Columbia University, the University of Texas, and Emory University. There are mass suspensions [of classes], evictions and expulsions of students from university dormitories, and arrests of journalists covering student and teacher protests.” .

The organization stressed that "even if you do not agree with this, and if you believe that the situation in the Gaza Strip does not deserve protests, these people still have the right to express their opinions and to protest peacefully. We all have this right."

Human Rights Watch indicated that it "does not deny the existence of cases of anti-Semitism during the demonstrations, but believes that such actions or statements made by individuals should be investigated on an individual basis."

"People cannot simply be deprived of their right to peacefully protest collectively because some individuals at or near the demonstration said vile things," the human rights organization concluded.

According to the Associated Press, American police arrested more than 900 people in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that took place on American university campuses.

Massive demonstrations at American universities range from peaceful sit-ins to clashes with police and pro-Israel activists, and the wave of arrests at universities began on April 18, when Columbia University President Nemat Shafik asked the New York Police to help remove the demonstrators from the university. The decision led to the arrest of more than 100 people on the Manhattan campus and sparked new waves of protests across the country.