Police remove students over flag protest

Tuesday 6 May was the one-year anniversary of ‘Rafah Garden’ — the pro-Palestinian tent protest that lasted 27 days last year in one of the inner courtyard gardens at the central CSS campus at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).

Three of the students who took part in the original tent protest — two of whom are UCPH students — wanted to mark the occasion with a simple mission: To climb a tree in the courtyard and hang up a Palestinian flag.

But they didn’t get that far. As they stood in front of the tree with their flag, they were stopped by a UCPH staff member who said that they would »call their boss.« No further reasoning was offered.

The students did not speak to any other UCPH staff or managers before the police showed up, asked for identification, and informed them that they had to leave the premises and could not return for the next 24 hours.

None of the students wish to be interviewed by name. But the University Post has spoken to one of them who described the incident. The University Post has also contacted Copenhagen Police to confirm the course of events. Copenhagen Police writes:

»Copenhagen Police can confirm that we were called to the University of Copenhagen, CSS campus, on Tuesday afternoon, where an unannounced demonstration was taking place. Three individuals were deemed unwelcome by the University of Copenhagen, and they were therefore given an injunction under police legislation, prohibiting them from being on UCPH property for 24 hours.«

»An automatic reaction from UCPH management«

Özgür Yegâh has been in contact with the students who were issued the police injunction at CSS and has agreed to speak on their behalf.

We assume it’s now just an automatic reaction from UCPH management to call the police whenever they see a Palestinian flag

Özgür Yegâh, member of the Executive Committee of the Student Council

Özgür Yegâh has previously been active in the organisation Students Against the Occupation which organised last year’s tent protest and several other pro-Palestinian actions.

Özgür Yegâh is now a member of the Student Council’s executive committee and emphasises that they — Özgür Yegâh uses the pronouns they/them — are speaking in this capacity.

According to Özgür Yegâh, members of the Students Against the Occupation group fear reprisals from UCPH if they speak to the press or otherwise reveal their identities in relation to the group — which is why it is important that the Student Council steps forward.

»The students were never told why they weren’t allowed to be there — whether it was about the flags or because they had climbing harnesses. But as far as I know, climbing trees isn’t illegal,« says Özgür Yegâh, and continues:

»We assume it’s now just an automatic reaction from UCPH management to call the police whenever they see a Palestinian flag. We don’t think it’s very democratic for UCPH to shut down actions related to Palestine by default, without even entering into dialogue with the students.«

Why is it important for the Student Council to speak out in this debate?

»We cannot accept that police presence has become the norm on campus. So we believe it is necessary to clearly oppose the UCPH handling of the matter.«

Özgür Yegâh refers to the series of protests during the autumn and winter of 2024, where students tried to establish an indoor ‘Rafah Garden’ at South Campus (KUA), but were repeatedly removed by police and threatened with individual repercussions.

READ ALSO: No more patience from UCPH management: These students may no longer demonstrate

The University Post has asked UCPH management why the police were called in, and what the students did wrong.

Prorector for Education Kristian C. Lauta has sent this written response:

»The conflict in Gaza arouses strong and understandable emotions. Our students and staff are welcome to express their views on the conflict — also on campus. In this particular case, a staff member asked a group of students not to climb to the top of a tree with a flag. When this was not complied with, the police had to be summoned. It was a novel situation, and we always hope to avoid involving the police. There is ample opportunity to make your point on the university’s noticeboards, via peaceful gatherings, or — as students and staff are doing this afternoon (on 8 May, students and staff met for a so-called teach-in in the inner courtyard at CSS, ed.) — by gathering and engaging in academic discussion.«