LAHORE: Organisers of the Asma Jahangir Conference are facing criticism after students alleged they were harassed and prevented from questioning the German ambassador over Germany’s support for Israel and its role in the ongoing violence in Gaza, which rights groups and activists have described as genocidal.
The incident occurred during a session at the conference when students attempted to raise questions about Germany’s political and military backing of Israel amid the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. According to student participants, organisers intervened to shut down the questions and pressured those involved, creating what they described as an intimidating environment.
The students accused the organisers of hypocrisy, saying it was contradictory to host a forum branded as a human rights conference while inviting representatives of states accused of enabling severe human rights violations, and then denying attendees the right to question them. They argued that accountability and open dialogue were central to any genuine human rights platform.
Student groups said the response reflected a broader pattern of selectively applied free speech, where critical voices, particularly those highlighting Palestinian suffering, were discouraged or silenced. They maintained that questioning international actors about their policies was a legitimate and necessary part of human rights advocacy.
The controversy sparked solidarity messages on social media, with students and activists using hashtags linked to the Asma Jahangir Conference, Lahore, and the Student Solidarity March 2026 to condemn the organisers’ actions and demand space for dissenting voices.
Critics also pointed out that Germany has been one of Israel’s strongest diplomatic supporters during the Gaza conflict, a position that has drawn global scrutiny as civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions continue to worsen. They said preventing questions on this issue undermined the credibility of the conference and the legacy of Asma Jahangir, who was known for defending free expression and challenging powerful institutions.
Conference organisers have not yet issued a detailed public response to the allegations. Students and rights activists, however, have called for greater transparency, assurances of academic and political freedom at future sessions, and an apology to those they say were targeted for raising uncomfortable but necessary questions.
