A People’s Inquiry into Campus Free Speech on Palestine is seeking submissions from university students and academic staff to assist them in an investigation into what they say is a major problem of universities restricting freedom of expression.

Pro-Palestinian advocates feel free speech is under threat after recent events in Australia and overseas, including the redefinition of “anti-semitism” by Universities Australia, and the recent arrest of US permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil, who was threatened with deportation for his role in protests.

The conflict, and the controversy surrounding it, is ongoing, and student leaders say more protest is inevitable.

Curtin Student Guild vice president Razanne Al-Abdeli says she’s concerned the international climate surrounding free speech for Palestine is affecting students locally.

“It’s about the long-term. If we’re looking at the banning and nitpicking of what students say here and there what else is going to be banned and suppressed?” she says.

She says Australia is falling victim to a global pattern of restricting the way people are allowed to discuss the Gaza-Israel conflict.

“It’s about external interference, it’s about foreign policy, they’re not things that should affect what students can critically think about and analyse over here,” Ms Al-Abdeli says.

Razanne Al-Abdeli discusses student concerns. Video: Madigan Landry.

Professor Linda Briskman is the Margaret Whitlam Chair of Social Work at Western Sydney University, and is one of five panellists reading submissions made to the inquiry.

She says the inquiry aims to restore confidence in free speech and academic freedom on university campuses.

“We want to make people sit up and see what’s actually happening in this country and that it’s eroding some basic democratic principles that we hold so dear.,” she says.

The inquiry is accepting submissions until March 31.