The British Association for Islamic Studies (BRAIS) have issued a statement on the humanitarian catastrophe being inflicted on the civilian population of Gaza,
We, the Trustees of the British Association for Islamic Studies, express our deep solidarity with, and moral commitment to Palestinian communities in Gaza, the West Bank and around the world in this moment of genocide, conducted by the state of Israel. We would particularly like to highlight the following points:
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The loss of any civilian life, regardless of religion or ethnicity, is an unspeakable tragedy and we call for an immediate ceasefire.
We recognise that the conflict, as well as the discourses surrounding it, are deeply asymmetrical and, because of this, we believe that it is our duty to highlight the Palestinian cause. We recognise that, for decades, Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have suffered violent occupation, dehumanisation and ethnic cleansing. We affirm the right of Palestinians to safety, dignity, restitution of rights and land.
We condemn the targeting of Palestinian universities and institutions of learning. We stand with our Palestinian colleagues in all sectors and assert their right to live their lives in dignity, enjoying full political agency as citizens, untrammelled by the brutalising apartheid system developed and conducted by the modern state of Israel since 1948.
We support, without qualification, the right of all colleagues in higher education in the UK and everywhere to express solidarity with Palestinians and their liberation and condemn attempts to censor them. We express our solidarity with any colleagues who have faced unjustified opprobrium or material consequences for speaking out in the Palestinian cause.
We reject attempts to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism and support for Palestine with support for terrorism. We stand in deep solidarity with our Jewish and Muslim colleagues, friends and students who face anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, including for speaking out in support of Palestinians [. . .]
