Melbourne Uni student sues Student Union over Israel boycott motion

Postgraduate law student Justin Riazaty has engaged pro bono lawyers and sent a letter of demand to the Student Union; he is also gathering signatures for a class action lawsuit

A MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY student intends to launch legal action against the student union, demanding it rescinds a controversial motion calling for the university to boycott Israel.

Postgraduate law student Justin Riazaty, 21, has engaged pro bono lawyers and has sent a letter of demand to the University of Melbourne Student Union relating to a motion that was passed on April 29. He is also gathering signatures for an open class-action lawsuit.

The motion called for the university, one of Australia’s top-ranked tertiary institutions, to launch an academic boycott and cut ties with “Israeli institutions, researchers and academics that support the Israeli oppression of Palestinians”. It also called for divestment from corporations involved with Israel.

FULL STORY Melbourne Uni student suing student union for Israel-Palestine motion (Age)

Photo: University of Melbourne student Justin Riazaty (Chris Hopkins)