Maastricht University Files Complaint Against Gaza Student Over Alleged Threats
Maastricht University has filed a formal police complaint against a 22-year-old student from Gaza following social media statements directed at a university staff member. The legal step marks a sharp escalation in an ongoing campus conflict that previously triggered a temporary suspension and extensive public scrutiny over online posts.
Police Complaint Filed Over Social Media Posts
Maastricht University initiated the criminal complaint after university associate professor Amanda Kluveld reported feeling seriously threatened by the student’s online activity, according to regional broadcaster L1 Nieuws. The complaint was lodged by the head of integral risk management and safety at the institution following a report made through WetenschapVeilig, a national helpdesk for academic staff facing intimidation. A university spokesperson told L1 Nieuws that filing the report constitutes standard procedure when an employee experiences perceived threats, noting that determining whether a punishable offense occurred remains up to the police and the Public Prosecution Service.
The student, identified in regional coverage as Hussein Issa, had posted a photograph of Kluveld’s social media profile alongside an image of a child with an eye injury. Accompanying text read, You post alot against me… Tell them that you are a supporter to people who made my nephew live with one eye?
According to the police report cited by De Nieuwe Ster, the filing concludes with the statement that the university representative wishes for criminal prosecution of the suspect.
University Suspended Student over Misinterpreted Video Phrasing
The latest legal action follows a tumultuous month that began on September 26, when the university initially suspended the computer science student for two months. Outlets noted that the suspension was prompted by a video in which the student watched masked fighters and stated, 7 October. This is me.
The Centrum voor Informatie en Documentatie Israël interpreted the phrasing as an admission of involvement in the October 7, 2023, attacks, a view widely adopted by media outlets at the time and one that resulted in outside threats directed at the student.
By early October, the university reversed course regarding the video after conducting personal talks with the student and consulting an Arabic translator and anthropologist. An investigation by the Public Prosecution Service also determined that the video contained no punishable offenses such as terrorism glorification or incitement. Experts concluded that the audio reflected an innocent expression within the Gazan dialect, leading the university to lift the temporary suspension and explore ways for the student to resume his coursework.
Current Restrictions and Student Appeal
Despite the dismissal of terrorist incitement concerns regarding the video, the university maintained restrictions on physical campus access for safety reasons. The student is currently permitted to continue his computer science degree exclusively on a remote basis, a decision he is actively fighting. In an interview with de Volkskrant, the student expressed frustration over his isolation, stating that studying from a distance prevents him from building social connections or making friends, particularly since his roommates blocked him on Instagram.
Uncertainty remains regarding the timeline of the police investigation and the final outcome of the student’s appeal against his remote-only study requirements. The Public Prosecution Service has not disclosed whether it will independently pursue further legal action beyond the university’s formal complaint.
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