Archive · 27 Jan 2026
UN Criticizes Switzerland for Sentencing Pro-Palestinian Students
Some students at a university in Switzerland called ETH Zurich had a peaceful protest in May 2024.
They were upset about their school working with schools in Israel.
The police made them stop, and later, some students were punished for being on school property without permission.
The United Nations said this was not fair because students should be allowed to protest peacefully.
Five students were fined and have to pay for lawyers, and there are still more students waiting to hear if they will be punished too.
Two students were not punished.
The U.N. said that punishing students for peaceful protests is not right.
U.N. experts criticized Switzerland for sentencing students involved in pro-Palestinian protests at ETH Zurich.
Around 70 students participated in a peaceful sit-in in May 2024, protesting the university's partnerships with Israeli universities.
Five students were sentenced for trespassing, facing suspended fines and legal fees, with convictions on their records.
Ten other students are appealing their charges, while two were acquitted.
The U.N. experts emphasized that peaceful student activism should not be criminalized.
- Who
- U.N. human rights experts and students at ETH Zurich
- What
- Sentencing of students for participating in pro-Palestinian protests
- When
- Protests occurred in May 2024; sentencing and U.N. statement in January 2024
- Where
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Why
- Students protested against the university's partnerships with Israeli universities
- Location
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Protest Type
- Peaceful sit-in
- Number of Students Involved
- Around 70
- Sentenced Students
- 5
- Pending Cases
- 10
- Acquitted Students
- 2
- Maximum Fine per Student
- 2700 CHF ($3,516.08)
- Legal Fees per Student
- Over 2,000 CHF ($2,604.85)