Protesters in support of Palestinians in Gaza are escorted away by police forces during the evacuation of the Sciences Po University, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Paris, France, May 3, 2024. REUTERS / Benoit Tessier
Protesters in support of Palestinians in Gaza are escorted away by police forces during the evacuation of the Sciences Po University, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Paris, France, May 3, 2024. REUTERS / Benoit Tessier
Protesters in support of Palestinians in Gaza are escorted away by police forces during the evacuation of the Sciences Po University, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Paris, France, May 3, 2024. REUTERS / Benoit Tessier
Protesters in support of Palestinians in Gaza are escorted away by police forces during the evacuation of the Sciences Po University, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islam

News

Paris police remove students from pro-Palestine sit-in at Sciences Po university

Protesters accuse authorities of 'disproportionate' response to demonstration, as tension rises at campuses around the world

Nicky Harley
Nicky Harley

May 03, 2024

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  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Paris police on Friday removed dozens of students staging a pro-Palestine sit-in at Sciences Po university.

About 90 students had been occupying the entrance hall to the research university, mirroring Gaza war protests at universities and colleges around the globe.

Authorities at the Paris university closed its main buildings in response to the sit-in and classes were held remotely. The protest began after interim administrator, Jean Basseres, refused their demands to investigate Science Po's ties with Israeli institutions.

It followed protests at universities in the UK and US, where students camped out on campuses to demand a ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza.

About 90 students were still inside the Rue Saint-Guillaume site when police arrived.

Bastien, 22, said he was among the protesters brought out in groups of 10 by officers. Another student, Lucas, who is studying for a master's degree, said "some students were dragged and others gripped by the head or shoulders".

Students from the Palestine committee at Sciences Po said they faced a "disproportionate" response from police, who blocked access to the site before moving in. Protesters also complained of a lack of "medical assistance" for seven students who started a hunger strike to show solidarity for people in Gaza.

Almost 100 people had occupied the foyer of the central Paris building, students said.

The previous day, around 100 students occupied a lecture hall at Sciences Po's Lyon campus, while a blockade at a university site in nearby Saint-Etienne was cleared by police on Thursday morning.

The university had given the group 20 minutes to leave before the forcible evacuation on Friday as exams are due to be held on Monday.

"The chief of police deployed law enforcement to evacuate the Sciences Po site," Paris police headquarters said in a statement.

"91 people were removed without incident."

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's office said such protests would be dealt with using "total rigour", adding that 23 university sites were "evacuated" on Thursday.

Police remove a protest banner at Sciences Po university, in Paris. Reuters
Police remove a protest banner at Sciences Po university, in Paris. Reuters

Sciences Po is widely considered to be the top political science school in France, with President Emmanuel Macron among its former students. Demonstrations have been held at its sites across the country to protest against the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Protests have been slow to spread to other prominent universities in France, in contrast to the US, where demonstrations at about 40 institutions have at times led to clashes with police and mass arrests.

Demonstrations have so far been more peaceful in France, which is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel and the US. France also has one of Europe's largest Muslim communities.

The University of California, Los Angeles, held remote classes on Friday after police cleared a protest camp on the campus and arrested more than 200 people.

In the UK, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said on Thursday that protesters in the country should face “an extremely strict response” if they tried to replicate what she described as “disgusting” scenes in the US, where more than 2,000 students have been arrested amid protests against the Gaza war.

Students of the University of Barcelona shout slogans during an encampment on campus. Reuters
Students of the University of Barcelona shout slogans during an encampment on campus. Reuters
A student of the University of Barcelona wears a Palestinian flag during a protest. Reuters
A student of the University of Barcelona wears a Palestinian flag during a protest. Reuters
Students gather during an encampment in the cloister of the University of Barcelona. Reuters
Students gather during an encampment in the cloister of the University of Barcelona. Reuters
Students set up tents during a protest against the war in Gaza at the University of Barcelona. AP
Students set up tents during a protest against the war in Gaza at the University of Barcelona. AP
Police break up a pro-Palestinian student camp at Berlin's Free University, in Germany. Reuters
Police break up a pro-Palestinian student camp at Berlin's Free University, in Germany. Reuters
Pro-Palestine demonstrators form a human chain at the institution, known in German as Freie Universitat. Reuters
Pro-Palestine demonstrators form a human chain at the institution, known in German as Freie Universitat. Reuters
Demands are delivered to the university for vice chancellor Deborah Prentice, during a student march through the grounds of Cambridge University. PA
Demands are delivered to the university for vice chancellor Deborah Prentice, during a student march through the grounds of Cambridge University. PA
Tents at a pro-Palestine student protest camp at Leeds University. AFP
Tents at a pro-Palestine student protest camp at Leeds University. AFP
A student protest camp outside the Helsinki University, in Finland. AFP
A student protest camp outside the Helsinki University, in Finland. AFP
Protesters occupy the University of Copenhagen's City Campus, in Denmark. EPA
Protesters occupy the University of Copenhagen's City Campus, in Denmark. EPA
Oxford University students protest in support of Palestinians. Reuters
Oxford University students protest in support of Palestinians. Reuters
Students occupy parts of the Oxford University campus. Reuters
Students occupy parts of the Oxford University campus. Reuters
A student hangs a Palestinian flag at the encampment that has been set up on the campus of the University of Valencia, Spain. Reuters
A student hangs a Palestinian flag at the encampment that has been set up on the campus of the University of Valencia, Spain. Reuters
Participants at a pro-Palestinian protest are ushered onto a bus under police surveillance, at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. AFP
Participants at a pro-Palestinian protest are ushered onto a bus under police surveillance, at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. AFP
Students set up a camp and barricades at the University of Amsterdam. Getty Images
Students set up a camp and barricades at the University of Amsterdam. Getty Images
Pro Israeli protestors disrupt a protest by pro-Palestinian protesters gathering at the campus of the University of Amsterdam. AFP
Pro Israeli protestors disrupt a protest by pro-Palestinian protesters gathering at the campus of the University of Amsterdam. AFP
Pro-Palestinian student protestors and activists take part in a demonstration at the University of Lausanne. AFP
Pro-Palestinian student protestors and activists take part in a demonstration at the University of Lausanne. AFP
Students gather at an encampment at the University of Copenhagen. Reuters
Students gather at an encampment at the University of Copenhagen. Reuters
About 100 pro-Palestine student activists occupy a Ghent University entry hall, in Gent, Belgium. EPA
About 100 pro-Palestine student activists occupy a Ghent University entry hall, in Gent, Belgium. EPA
Pro-Palestinian protesters are escorted away by police during the evacuation of the Sciences Po University in Paris. Reuters
Pro-Palestinian protesters are escorted away by police during the evacuation of the Sciences Po University in Paris. Reuters
Students block the entrance of the ESJ Superior School of Journalism in Lille, northern France. AFP
Students block the entrance of the ESJ Superior School of Journalism in Lille, northern France. AFP
Protesters shout slogans during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in front of Jean Moulin University in Lyon, France. AFP
Protesters shout slogans during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in front of Jean Moulin University in Lyon, France. AFP
Students wave Palestinians flag during a rally near the entrance of an Institute of Political Studies building in Grenoble, France. AFP
Students wave Palestinians flag during a rally near the entrance of an Institute of Political Studies building in Grenoble, France. AFP
Demonstrators hold a banner reading 'Solidarity with Palestine' in the courtyard of the Institute of Political Studies in Lyon. AFP
Demonstrators hold a banner reading 'Solidarity with Palestine' in the courtyard of the Institute of Political Studies in Lyon. AFP
Police secure the entrance of Humboldt University in Berlin during a pro-Palestinian demonstration. Reuters
Police secure the entrance of Humboldt University in Berlin during a pro-Palestinian demonstration. Reuters
Protesters in front of Humboldt University. Reuters
Protesters in front of Humboldt University. Reuters
Tents are set up at a camp on the grounds of Newcastle University in England. AP
Tents are set up at a camp on the grounds of Newcastle University in England. AP
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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