ALWAGHT- Mariyah Ali and Antonia Listrat have been exonerated following a year-long investigation into pro-Palestine demonstrations at the University of Birmingham.
The University of Birmingham has dropped all disciplinary charges against students Mariyah Ali and Antonia Listrat after a year-long investigation into their involvement in Palestine solidarity protests. The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), which supported the students, confirmed that the university’s Misconduct and Fitness to Practise Committee found no evidence of wrongdoing. The disciplinary proceedings had drawn strong criticism from human rights groups and pro-Palestine activists.
Both students condemned the university’s actions, highlighting the emotional toll and accusing the institution of trying to suppress their right to protest its complicity in the war on Gaza. Ali emphasized that the student movement for Palestine is gaining momentum, while Listrat reaffirmed the importance of protest as a core aspect of campus life, denouncing the university’s stance as aligned with violence and oppression.
According to the ELSC, the allegations were rooted in Islamophobic and racialized stereotypes and are part of a broader trend across UK universities. They argue that disciplinary systems are increasingly being used to silence Muslim and racialized students involved in Palestine advocacy. Activists say these efforts aim to protect universities’ financial and political ties to Israel, with more than 100 students facing disciplinary action across at least 28 institutions.
