World

Uppsala University Faces Protest Over Awarding of Former German Foreign Minister

By Ninian McGowan, Mohammad Haydar

When the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation announced in late August that former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock would receive its 2026 medal, the decision shocked many. The foundation states that the medal is awarded to a person who “contributes to a more just, peaceful and environmentally sustainable world through valuable achievements in politics or research.” Baerbock was invited to Uppsala University to deliver a lecture as part of the ceremony, an event that was promoted as celebrating “compassion, humanism and commitment to international solidarity.”

Critics point out that Baerbock’s government approved 94 million euros ($102 million) in arms exports to Israel in 2024, and that she has repeatedly expressed strong support for Israel’s security, describing it as “non‑negotiable for Germany.” She has also defended Israeli actions that critics say violate international law, including the targeting of civilian sites. These positions stand in contrast to statements from the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, which have called for measures against Israel in response to alleged genocide in Gaza.

Uppsala University’s decision to co‑organise Baerbock’s lecture has been criticized for its lack of action against Israeli institutions, especially after the university ended collaborations with Russian institutions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Students and faculty have repeatedly demanded that the university take a stand against what they see as an occupying power committing genocide.

In response, a group of students and activists entered the lecture venue in groups and interrupted Baerbock’s seminar four times. The protesters expressed frustration with her statements and argued that her support for Israel’s policies represented a failure to uphold international law. They also highlighted the university’s perceived complicity by continuing to host her event.

The protestors stated that they felt it was necessary to disrupt the event because peaceful attempts to address the situation had previously been ineffective. They argued that the university and diplomatic community had not taken decisive action against the ongoing violence in Gaza.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.