Mohammed Khatib, president of the European branch of the controversial Pro-Palestinian organisation Samidoun, will be giving a lecture at the Spinoza Building next week. Radboud University sees no problem with hosting the speaker, whose organisation is banned in Germany, but his arrival is causing quite a commotion.

“We are happy to announce that Mohammed Khatib of Samidoun is finally coming to Radboud University to speak about criminalisation and resistance in the Palestinian diaspora.”

With this tweet, Assistant Professor of Human Geography Harry Pettit announced the upcoming event of Situating Palestine, a lecture series on the situation in Palestine, organised by Radboud University lecturers. Khatib’s lecture will take place on the afternoon of Monday 28 October at the Spinoza Building.

Anti-Semitic utterances

The post caused quite a stir on X and led to articles in several media outlets, including De Telegraaf and De Gelderlander. Khatib is the European coordinator of Samidoun, an organisation that describes itself as an international network of organisers and activists seeking to build solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in their struggle for freedom.

But the organisation is also controversial. According to intelligence agencies, Samidoun is linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is considered a terrorist organisation by the Dutch National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV). German authorities already banned Samidoun for ‘anti-Semitic utterances’ and ‘open support for terror organisation Hamas’. The Belgian government is in turn trying to revoke Khatib’s refugee status on the grounds that he may pose a danger to society. The Dutch cabinet would also like to ban the organisation.

‘No obstacles’

This fact notwithstanding, Radboud University has no issues with the European foreman coming to the University. “This speaker is legal in our country and has the same rights and obligations as everyone else,” says a university spokesperson. “Enquiries at the municipality and police revealed that there are currently no obstacles in that respect.”

‘Calls for lawbreaking, violence and discrimination are not permitted.’

The spokesperson points out that the meeting with Khatib must adhere to principles of inclusion, safety, openness to other opinions and mutual respect. Calls for lawbreaking, violence and discrimination are not permitted. “It is up to the organisers to monitor this and intervene if necessary.”

Where necessary, Radboud University will take measures around security. What exactly these measures are, the spokesperson would not say.

Car park

This is not the first time Khatib is coming to speak on the Radboud University campus. Last spring, he was invited by Pro-Palestine demonstrators to deliver a lecture at the tent camp next to the Maria Montessori Building.

A second lecture by Khatib, after the evacuation of the tent camp, ultimately did not go ahead. Due to restrictions around the right to demonstrate, the demonstration could only take place in a car park next to the Elinor Ostrom Building. In the end, no one showed up for the demonstration, with the exception of a handful of security guards.