A Muslim councillor and student fears his free speech is being attacked after receiving a “formal warning” from the University of Leeds after attending several pro-Palestine campus protests in 2024.
Ismail Uddin, 20, from Bradford, has been studying at the University of Leeds since 2022.
However, after engaging in pro-Palestine activism throughout 2024, Uddin received an email from the university last September informing him of an investigation into his “behaviour.”
Uddin, who was also elected as District Councillor for the Bowling & Barkerend Ward, Bradford since May 2024, was accused of engaging in unauthorised protests on the university campus, threatening security guards and impersonating members of staff.
After months of investigation, the university ruled that there was “no case to answer” for all the allegations except for “failing to comply with health and safety requests by staff” while attending an “unauthorised” protest.
Mr Uddin was presented with a formal warning by the university.
In response to the ruling, Mr Uddin informed 5Pillars of his frustration at the disciplinary process and the outcome.
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“The recent disciplinary action taken against me by the University of Leeds is deeply troubling. Initially, I was accused of threatening security personnel and impersonating staff members — both of which were later dropped. Instead, the university’s focus shifted solely to my attendance at a protest, despite the absence of any allegations of misconduct.
“Penalising individuals simply for attending protests is a direct attack on the right to free expression and sets a dangerous precedent where institutions can silence critical voices of injustice.”
Mr Uddin also claimed that the university was engaging in a “draconian attempt” to suppress pro-Palestine activism on campus.
“Furthermore, on 23rd September 2024, the University claimed that I had not followed its Guidance on Demonstrations or Protests regarding protests that took place in May and June 2024.
“However, metadata confirms that this guidance was only published on 20th September 2024 —just three days before disciplinary proceedings against me began. This is a clear and draconian attempt to retroactively punish individuals and suppress activism.”
Mr Uddin told 5Pillars that he has been left feeling uncertain about his ability to attend future pro-Palestine activities as he fears it may lead to further disciplinary action by the university.
5Pillars reached out to the university and asked if they had a policy towards the Palestine-Israel issue and whether Mr Uddin faces expulsion for attending any future pro-Palestine action.
The University of Leeds did not respond to 5Pillars’ request for clarity or a statement on the story.
However, 5Pillars did obtain a copy of the advice sent to Mr Uddin as part of his formal warning from the university.
“The right to lawful protest is not unfettered and must be balanced between the rights of protesters to assert their views on the one hand and, on the other, the rights of others (students, staff and visitors) to go about their business safely, unimpeded and free from intimidation and harassment.
“Guidance to ensure that students protests can be conducted safely for all members of the University community and the public is set out on the For Students webpages. Following this guidance will reduce the likelihood of protesters breaching regulations and becoming subject to future disciplinary action, which may result in more significant sanctions.”
Tensions over IDF Rabbi
Throughout 2024, students at the University of Leeds had been venting their shock and outrage after a story broke regarding a Zionist Rabbi serving as Chaplain at the university.
Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, a rabbinical emissary serving as the Jewish chaplain of several British universities since 2021, returned to Israel to serve in the IDF following the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in 2023.
Duetsch returned to his role as chaplain in January, 2024. His presence on campus caused alarm among many students, sparking a protest movement calling for his expulsion from the university.
A petition was launched demanding the dismissal of Deutsch from the university passed 12,000 signatures on Change.org.
The Muslim Association of Britain raised concerns for Muslim students to the University of Leeds on X: “Why have you allowed Zechariah Deutsch to return to the university as a chaplain after serving in the IDF? You have a duty of care towards your students to ensure their safety at all times. How can your students feel safe with a war criminal complicit in genocide roaming your campus?”
The university’s willingness to employ Deutsch was one of the core reasons which led to several unauthorised demonstrations on university grounds, some of which Mr Uddin had attended as a participant but not as an organiser between February and June 2024.
Tensions over the university’s stance on the Deutsch boiled to such a level that the Muslim chaplain, Farhat Yaqoob, resigned in protest claiming her principles no longer “aligned” with the Leeds institution.
The row only cooled when it was reported that the IDF-serving Rabbi left the UK and moved to Israel in June 2024.
Gaza killing fields
As of February 11, 2025, over 48,219 Palestinian have been reported killed in Gaza due to Israel’s genocidal war following October 7.
Despite the official death toll, many experts believe the death toll is far higher.
Some 166 journalists and media workers have also been slain with 120 academics, and over 224 humanitarian aid workers also being killed amid Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign.
The IDF has been accused of committing numerous war crimes by experts, human rights groups and journalists.
In November 2024, following an investigation of war crimes, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the former Minister of Defense of Israel, alleging responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity.
