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Is Freie Universität Berlin considering banning the organizers or participants of protests or demonstrations from the university or expelling students involved in such activities?

The right of higher education institutions to enforce certain sanctions against university members in order to maintain law and order (“Ordnungsrecht”) – which also included exmatriculation among its most drastic measures – was repealed through an amendment to the Berlin Higher Education Act in 2021. That means that the university has no formal grounds to expel students in this context. However, if necessary to ensure regular university operations, certain measures lasting up to three months in total (such as banning individuals from the premises) may be enacted in order to protect public safety on campus. These measures are not taken lightly and are only carried out after much deliberation and prior consideration.

It is important to note in this regard that Freie Universität Berlin was not the organizer of the protest in lecture hall 1a on December 14, 2023. Freie Universität did not organize this event, nor did it grant approval for the event to take place or for the participants to congregate on university property. The university did not collect the personal information of the participants, nor does it plan to do so. Freie Universität will, however, bring charges against any violations of the law that it becomes aware of.
(Last updated: January 8, 2024)