ORGANISERS of a controversial conference cancelled at a Hampshire university will find out within days if the decision will be overturned at the High Court.

A judicial review has been launched challenging the legality of the University of Southampton’s decision to axe the debate on Israel and Palestine amid safety fears.

As reported, university bosses pulled the plug on the three-day event after it attracted criticism from more than 6,000 people and politicians who labelled it “anti-semetic”.

Organisers say that while protests were predicted and risks identified, the local police force had maintained that it could control the event and ensure security.

Some staff at the University of Southampton meanwhile expressed their dismay at the cancelled conference and the university has launched a “HR line” to assist them.

Support There has also been an outpouring of support to for the conference and more than 9,000 people have signed a petition urging the university to uphold free speech.

One organiser Professor Suleiman Sharkh penned an open letter to University of Southampton chiefs, where he denounced the decision to cancel International Law and the State of Israel: Legitimacy, Responsibility and Exceptionalism as shortsighted and “wrong in law”.

Daily Echo: Exterior of Southampton University

He told the Daily Echo that the legal challenge was of huge importance.

Mr Sharkh, said: “The reason we are going to the High Court is not because of the conference, that is a small part of it.

“The biggest issue is the freedom of speech. If this decision by the university is allowed to stick, it will have massive implications everywhere.”

While director of research for the University Of Southampton School Of Law David Gurnham wrote to vice chancellor Don Nutbeam urging him to reconsider his decision.

Mr Gurnham, said: “It seems to me outrageous that you seem to have allowed the bullying and threats of the Israeli lobby to prevent the perfectly lawful and legitimate exercise of free speech and academic debate.

“I understand that the police had reported that they would be perfectly able and willing to deal with any security concerns at the event: this ought to be good enough.

“Cancelling the event in this way makes the university look weak, spineless and reactionary. I am proud to be a member of academic staff here, but your decision to withdraw support for a conference in this manner makes me, and I’m sure very many others like me, seriously question the university’s commitment to open and free debate.”