Over in the US, one of California’s most prestigious universities has announced it will have no outside speakers after cancelling a traditional student’s farewell speech over security concerns.
The University of Southern California is due to hold its annual commencement ceremony – which honours outgoing students – next month.
Controversy has surrounded the event since the university moved to cancel a valedictory speech from a Muslim student, Asna Tabassum, earlier this week.
USC head Andrew Guzman said that decision was made to protect campus security, but Ms Tabassum says the university is “caving to fear and rewarding hatred”, which she says is directed by “anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices”.
The valedictorian – the student chosen to give the speech – is typically the highest-achieving student from those set to graduate from the university.
The Council on American Islamic Relations advocacy group and anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace supported Ms Tabassum.
On Thursday, about 500 demonstrators marched at the USC campus in her support.
USC’s ceremony, scheduled for 10 May, will honour a class of 19,000 graduates and is expected to draw 65,000 people to the downtown Los Angeles campus.
Tensions have risen at universities across the US since the war in Gaza began.
Two days ago, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Columbia University in New York after its president authorised police to clear an encampment set up by students demonstrating against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Those protests continued for a third successive day yesterday.
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