Animal rights injuction stalled
Oxford University's bitter fight for an injunction against ten animal rights protesters this week failed to come to a conclusion after the judge in the case injured his back.
Last month the High Court agreed to grant the University a temporary injunction creating a 'no harassment zone' of 35 metres surrounding all University buildings; the case was due to be resolved on Tuesday, but has now been put on hold until Mr Justice Grigson fully recovers.
The University decided to take action against animal rights protestors after an eight month campaign to stop various University projects, particularly the building of a new biomedical Research laboratory on South Parks Road. If the injunction is granted protests will be restricted to 25 people at a time, in a given area, for no more than four hours between 1pm and 5pm.
Whilst admitting that the proposed injunction is "draconian", solicitor-advocate for the University, Timothy Lawson-Cruttenden said: "The University does actually believe passionately in the freedom of expression and has been maintaining that right for 800 years."
A University spokesperson told The Oxford Student the order has been sought to "protect University and college members from possible intimidation or acts of violence from animal rights activists."
Robert Cogswell of SPEAK, an influential animal rights group, strongly disagrees. He told The Oxford Student: "It is my belief that the University is attempting to stifle freedom of speech... We at SPEAK are fighting for democratic rights to a peaceful protest."
There are also fears that University students and staff could fall foul of the injunction.
The ten named defendants who are contesting the injunction under the 1997 Protection from Harassment Act, claiming there is lack of evidence that they have been acting in an unlawful way.
14th Oct 2004