{"id":38756,"date":"2025-10-07T21:05:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T21:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/sister-of-7-october-victim-condemns-pro-palestine-student-protests\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T21:05:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T21:05:16","slug":"sister-of-7-october-victim-condemns-pro-palestine-student-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/sister-of-7-october-victim-condemns-pro-palestine-student-protests\/","title":{"rendered":"Sister of 7 October victim condemns pro-Palestine student protests"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Catherine Lyst<\/span>BBC Scotland<\/span><\/p>\n

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Laura Schosloff said there are now times when she feels she has to hide the fact she is Jewish<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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The sister of a Scottish victim of the Hamas attack on Israel two years ago has condemned pro-Palestine protests, accusing students taking part of celebrating the deaths of 1,200 people. <\/p>\n

Bernard Cowan, who grew up in Newton Mearns, was one of the victims of the 7 October assault. He was shot dead outside the home he shared with his family on Kibbutz Sufa.<\/p>\n

On the second anniversary of the killings, students across the UK, including at universities in Edinburgh and Glasgow, have held rallies in support of the Palestinians.<\/p>\n

Scottish students attending the protests said they did not condone antisemitism but wanted to show their opposition to genocide and the murder of innocent civilians.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At least 67,173 people have been killed in Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.<\/p>\n

The protests went ahead despite the pleas of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer <\/a>who urged students not to take part, warning of “rising antisemitism on our streets”.<\/p>\n

Sir Keir said it was “un-British to have little respect for others” by staging demonstrations on the anniversary, adding protests had been used by some as a “despicable excuse to attack British Jews”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Bernard Cowan was shot dead outside the home he shared with his family on Kibbutz Sufa during the 7 October attacks<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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The UK is seeing heightened security to protect Jewish communities after last week’s deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mr Cowan’s sister Laura Schosloff told BBC Scotland News she felt the protests were antisemitic.<\/p>\n

“I just see a lot of hatred, not just towards Israel but towards the Jewish people,” she said. “I just think it’s so sad. We should be able live together.<\/p>\n

“The protests should never happen. They’re celebrating the deaths of 1,200 people that were massacred in Israel.<\/p>\n

“It’s totally unacceptable. No death should be celebrated. It should never be allowed. Our government is ridiculous allowing this to go ahead.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Ms Schosloff said she normally felt safe in Glasgow but now was “not too sure”.<\/p>\n

“You just don’t know what will happen – what people will do behind your back,” she said. “Not physically but maybe the’ll say a couple of things or look at you in a certain way.<\/p>\n

“I have lots of non-Jewish friends and work in a non-Jewish community. I feel comfortable with them but sometimes I have to hide the fact that I’m actually Jewish. <\/p>\n

“I am proud to be British, proud to be Scottish and proud to be Jewish, but at times I have to hide my own identity here in Scotland which is totally ridiculous.”<\/p>\n

Speaking about her brother, she said: “It’s very sad. I’ve been grieving for the last two years. <\/p>\n

“But the Jewish anniversary of Bernard’s death is not until the 14th October which would have been his 60th birthday.<\/p>\n

“He would have been celebrating it out in Israel. So we will be grieving today but next week as well when he would have been 60.”<\/p>\n

She said she wanted the hostages to be returned to Israel along with the bodies of those who had been killed to allow their families to grieve.<\/p>\n

She added that she just wanted peace in the whole region. <\/p>\n

“Everybody should be able to live with their neighbours,” she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Hundreds of students took part in a Pro-Palestine rally in Edinburgh <\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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In Edinburgh, hundreds of students joined a rally at Edinburgh University’s main library building in George Square in an event organised by the Justice for Palestine Society. <\/p>\n

The university’s principal had appealed for them to be considerate of their actions.<\/p>\n

But those who attended told BBC Scotland News that the second anniversary of the 7 October attack was the right time to highlight how long civilians in Gaza had been suffering as a result of the ongoing war.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Student protests<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Meanwhile in Glasgow, about 40 people gathered at a demonstration in Rotten Row Gardens near Strathclyde University.<\/p>\n

Some waved Palestine flags and carried placards that read “stop arming Israel”.<\/p>\n

One student spoke on a loud speaker and said: “Some say today is not the right day for this but every day that there is an occupation and bombs fall on Gaza, that is the wrong day.<\/p>\n

“There is no wrong time to stand for justice. We mourn all loss of life.”<\/p>\n

There were short chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.<\/p>\n

One student protestor, Amina, told the BBC: “I think it’s insensitive to stop protesting against bloodshed purely because our prime minister supports it and thinks it might not be the best day.<\/p>\n

“Of course, the losses on October 7th were horrific. In no way do we condone that.<\/p>\n

“In no way do we condone antisemitism or Zionism. We’re just here to acknowledge the losses and really put an end to it.”<\/p>\n

She added: “Antisemitism is a horrific thing. We’re here to oppose all violence and genocide.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Students gathered despite a plea from Sir Keir Starmer to stay away<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Another student, Rosa, said: “Ultimately, this day marks two years of intensified genocide in Palestine, as well as marking the tragedy of October 7th by Hamas, and there shouldn’t be a hierarchy of suffering in that regard.<\/p>\n

“It is understandable that today is a day of grieving, and a day of reflection on the significance of this day. However, ultimately, it is still the historical day that marks two years of this intense genocide.<\/p>\n

“I haven’t seen any antisemitism at any protest here. I haven’t ever heard religion being brought up.”<\/p>\n

The protest had been advertised online and Strathclyde University asked the organisers to delay the event.<\/p>\n

A university spokeswoman added: “We believe that holding an event of this nature on this date is insensitive and we have asked that they delay to show their civic responsibility and common decency.”<\/p>\n

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The right to peaceful public assembly and freedom of expression are important rights that the Scottish government is committed to upholding.<\/p>\n

“That right, however, should never be used to justify or incite hateful, violent, intimidating or criminal behaviour or express support for those who do so.<\/p>\n

“Police Scotland has powers under the Public Order Act 1986 to maintain public safety and order.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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