Cambridge University has been granted a High Court injunction to prevent protests from taking place during its graduation season and end-of-year exams. The legal order, which runs until 26 July, bans demonstrations in key areas of the campus.
The university argued that recent demonstrations, including a 15-day occupation of a key administrative building, posed risks to both individuals and university property. It also claimed that protesters had accessed confidential documents during the occupation.
Mr Justice Soole, who granted the injunction, said there was a “strong probability” of further disruption and concluded there was a “compelling need” for legal action.
The order will cover 12 graduation ceremonies and the busy summer exam period. Cambridge University stressed the move is not about silencing political opinion, but about ensuring ceremonies and work can proceed without interruption.
“It is the activity we are seeking to stop, not the viewpoint,” said Myriam Stacey KC, representing the university.
However, the decision has sparked backlash. Rights groups including Liberty, along with over 200 staff and 580 students, have criticised the injunction as a threat to freedom of expression. Protest group Cambridge for Palestine accused the university of trying to crush student activism.
Despite the controversy, the university says protests still occur regularly on campus — just not in areas crucial to ceremonies or administration.
