A rally outside a Parramatta court on September 12 was organised to support Mazin, a student who is appealing his conviction of assault during a protest demanding Western Sydney University cut ties with companies linked to the genocide in Gaza.
About 50 people attended the demonstration at WSU Parramatta South campus in October 9 last year. Police arrived on campus and arrested two students.
Mazin was charged with resisting arrest, aggravated bodily harm and common assault. The first two charges were dropped at his hearing. He has been suspended from WSU until a misconduct hearing is completed.
Another student, Issa, was also charged with assaulting police and security and resisting arrest. He has also been suspended from the university.
WSU Professor Alana Lentin told Honi Soit: 鈥淚 was there 鈥 and when the students came in the building, the security of the university were pushing and shoving students left and right 鈥 if there鈥檚 any question of assault, then I think we have to look at what security was doing.鈥
Lentin also said she was 鈥渟lammed up against a wall鈥 and had her wrist injured by campus security.
Mazin suffered concussion, joint pain and bruising on his legs as a result of the arrest.
Although WSU provost Kevin Dunn denied that the university had called the police on the protesters, Crikey obtained emails between university security and staff and the police that show close collaboration between the university and police in relation to pro-Palestine campaigners.
The emails revealed that campus security were monitoring social media and sending information about a forthcoming meeting of WSU4Palestine to police. A further email from a WSU staff member stated that a staff member was going to be present at the meeting and that they would 鈥渃ontact the station or 000 should anything escalate鈥.
Eric Soriano told the crowd outside Parramatta court: 鈥淭his is about silencing an entire movement. They want students to look at Mazin and be afraid. They want campuses to be quiet. They want Palestine erased from public life.鈥
WSU4Palestine has been calling on the university to end its research agreement with Israeli company Syqe, a medical supplier to the Israeli military. It is also calling on the university to 鈥渃ut ties with all companies arming Israel, including BAE Systems, Thales and Raytheon鈥 and 鈥渄ivest from all companies aiding Israel鈥檚 crimes, including Leonardo S.p.a, Rolls Royce, Palantir and Chevron鈥.
Issa鈥檚 case is due to be heard on November 28. Supporters are asked to gather again outside Parramatta Local Court.
Photo caption: Supporters of WSU student outside Parramatta court.