Support students charged for protesting the Genocide in Gaza

The Association for the Protection of Freedom of Expression (VSM, based in Zurich) is launching a fundraising campaign to support the students and activists being charged for their peaceful protest against their universities complicity in Genocide.

After the two peaceful sit-ins last May, which aimed to draw attention to ETHZ‘s complicity in Israeli war crimes, ETHZ filed 40 criminal charges against the protesters for trespassing and participating in an unauthorized demonstration.

The protesting students can either go through lengthy, expensive and psychologically stressful legal proceedings or plead guilty. A guilty plea leads to an entry in the criminal record for trespassing (for at least two years) and, in the event of a repeat offense, a further fine of around CHF 900. This entry in the criminal record has far-reaching consequences for the demonstrators, including a considerable impairment of their search for accommodation and possibly also their chances of finding a job. In addition, students have to pay administrative costs of around CHF 800 and an average fine of CHF 450 for participating in an unauthorized demonstration, even though this right is protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Swiss constitution. The exact amount of the fines, the administrative costs and the penalty imposed varies from person to person

For the sake of transparency, the donation target is calculated as follows:

40 charges have been filed against 36 students. Approximately 16 of them will contest the charges, while the other 20 will plead guilty. The following figures (number of students involved in the court case and court costs) are subject to change depending on the progress of the case.

For those who accept the criminal charges, costs are estimated at CHF 1250 per person, calculated as follows: .

- 800 CHF average administrative costs

- 450 CHF average fine

(excluding the average CHF 900 fine imposed for future offenses)

The total cost for those who have accepted the charge is therefore around 20 * 1250 CHF = 25,000 CHF.

This number is the first fundraising target!

For the students contesting the criminal charges in court, the estimated average administrative legal costs (the legal representation works pro-bono in this phase) amount to CHF 8000 per person. This calculation excludes the costs of CHF 1250 * 16 = CHF 20,000 in the event that the students lose their case. The total costs for the legal proceedings are therefore as follows:

8000 CHF * 16 = 128'000 CHF

In order to cover the financial needs of the demonstrating students, the following sum was calculated:

128'000 CHF + 25'000 CHF = 153'000 CHF.

If the students are unsuccessful in their lawsuit against the prosecution, this money will be used to cover the administrative costs of the court proceedings and the fines for those who did not go to court. In addition, a further CHF 20,000 would be raised to pay the fines of the students who went to court.

If the students are successful in their appeal, ETH will probably also have to cover the costs of the legal proceedings for those who have not accepted their fines. Those who have already accepted and paid their fines will probably not get the money back. The money left over after covering the court costs will be used for the Palestinian-led reconstruction of educational institutions and infrastructure in Gaza.