The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has been granted leave to appear during Hearing Block 4 of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism, which will examine antisemitism in Australian universities.
APAN will use every minute available to it to raise issues which are important to our movement, and which must be put on the public record, including Anti-Palestinian racism.
APAN President Nasser Mashni said:
“The Commission has granted APAN an opportunity to participate in Hearing Block 4.
If the Royal Commission is to fulfil its purpose effectively, and to make recommendations which will truly benefit social cohesion, it must hear directly from the communities whose rights, experiences and voices have too often been sidelined.
We will approach this hearing seriously and use every opportunity available to provide necessary context that has been missing from this process.”
APAN Vice Hiba Farra said:
“The university encampments formed part of a global movement calling for an end to Israel’s assault on Gaza. They also called on universities to review and cut their ties with companies linked to the occupation and military industry and to join the call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. The encampments were an important manifestation of the right to protest, which is critical to a functioning liberal democracy. We should not be silencing legitimate debate at our universities.
More than 1,000 days into Israel’s assault on Gaza, with more than 73,000 Palestinians killed and thousands more still missing beneath the rubble, the circumstances that gave rise to these protests must not be forgotten.
APAN remains committed to ensuring that Palestinian voices, perspectives and experiences are, to the extent possible, heard in the Commission.”
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