Statement of Support for Student Protests

Students at the University of Ljubljana recently joined a global student protest, demanding a more decisive response from academic institutions and governments to the ongoing destruction in Gaza, which has persisted for over half a year. Israeli authorities and their military contend that their actions are part of an anti-terrorist campaign directed against Hamas. However, as they continue to obliterate lives, homes, hospitals, schools, and universities in plain sight and without any apparent remorse—and as they force survivors into areas declared 'humanitarian' but far from safe—the need for a clear and forceful response is evident. The students, recognizing a significant disparity between the reality in Gaza and the tepid reactions from Western public opinion leaders, are justified in their outcry. Occupation is occupation, apartheid is apartheid, and genocide is genocide. Acknowledging these realities not only calls things by their true names but also paves the way for decisive, and ultimately, rational action. The reality of genocide compels institutions to reevaluate their potential for more effective intervention.

We at the Institute of Philosophy, ZRC SAZU, express our full support for the students in Slovenia and around the world.

Matej Ažman

Rok Benčin

Aleš Bunta

Marina Gržinić Mauhler

Peter Klepec

Uroš Kranjc

Vesna Liponik

Aleš Mendiževec

Boštjan Nedoh

Arsalan Reihanzadeh

Jelica Šumič Riha

Tadej Troha

Matjaž Vesel

Alenka Zupančič Žerdin

Marisa Žele

The statement is also supported by the members of the Institute of Culture and Memory Studies

Tamara Banjeglav

Ksenija Bogetić Pejović

Tjaša Cankar

Jasna Fakin Bajec

Ana Hofman

Oto Luthar

Katja Kobolt

Teja Komel Klepec

Jovana Mihajlović Trbovc

Tanja Petrović

Martin Pogačar

Jovita Pristovšek

The statement is also supported by the members of the Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies

Saša Čaval

Nejc Čož

Adam Gabrič

Nataša Gregorič Bon

Ana Jelnikar

Urša Kanjir

Nina Krašovec

Aleš Marsetič

Peter Pehani

Maja Petrović-Šteger

Melita Robič

Nastja Slavec

Liza Stančič

Luka Škerjanec

Ivan Šprajc

Borut Telban

Tatjana Veljanovski