Douglas Olsen
International students in Australia have participated in protests for a variety of reasons, including immigration changes, prolonged border closures, and in support of protests in Hong Kong. While international students have the right to protest, there have been concerns about universities turning a blind eye to harassment and surveillance by the Chinese government towards Chinese students with differing political views. These students have faced threats and intimidation, with some receiving online threats and others being doxxed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| International students protesting in Australia | International students in Australia have protested against various issues, including immigration changes, border closures, and in support of protests in Hong Kong. |
| Chinese students protesting in Australia | Chinese students have faced threats and intimidation when protesting against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and speaking out on issues like the treatment of Uyghurs. |
| University response to protests | Australian universities have been accused of failing to protect Chinese students from harassment and not supporting academic freedom. Universities deny these claims and assert their commitment to academic freedom and intellectual inquiry. |
| Impact on student visas | Protests by international students on student visas have occurred without reported visa repercussions. However, there are reports of international students being exploited in the workplace and facing housing issues. |
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What You'll Learn
- International students' protests against immigration changes
- Indian international students protest against prolonged border closures
- Uyghur-Australian students protest against the Chinese state
- International students' protests against universities' inaction on harassment
- International students' protests against interference and in support of Hong Kong
International students' protests against immigration changes
Protests against immigration changes have been a common occurrence in Australia. International students in the country have been vocal about their opposition to various immigration policies and have actively participated in demonstrations. While international students in Australia have the right to protest, those speaking out against the Chinese state, particularly in support of Hong Kong and Uyghur Muslims, have faced threats and intimidation.
In 2021, Chinese student Horror Zoo organised a protest in Melbourne against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Zoo also ran a Twitter account parodying Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was suspended. She faced online threats and intimidation from Chinese nationalists, including reports of her parents being contacted by Chinese police.
Uyghur-Australian student Adila Yarmuhammad has also been protesting outside the Chinese consulate in Adelaide, which is home to a large Uyghur community. Yarmuhammad and other Uyghur protesters have experienced fear and intimidation, including receiving frequent phone calls from unknown numbers.
In addition to protests against China, international students in Australia have also demonstrated against delays in visa processing and changes to visa policies. Human Rights Watch has accused Australian universities of failing to protect Chinese students from harassment when they express views critical of the CCP. Universities have been accused of turning a "blind eye" to harassment and surveillance by the Chinese government, prioritising international student fees over student safety.
While international students in Australia have the right to protest, those speaking out against certain governments and policies have faced challenges and intimidation tactics. These protests have brought attention to important issues, but participants have also faced risks and potential consequences for their actions.
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Indian international students protest against prolonged border closures
International students and temporary visa holders from India have protested against Australia's prolonged border closures. The protests took place in front of the Jantar Mantar observatory in New Delhi, with students raising slogans and holding posters demanding justice and immediate returns. The students also presented a memorandum to the Australian High Commission, expressing their concerns about ongoing expenses in Australia while stranded in India.
The protests were triggered by the Australian government's decision to keep borders closed to temporary residents, which left over 164,000 visa holders stranded outside the country, including nearly 13,000 Indian students. The leader of the protests, Gagandeep Singh, an art student from Melbourne, organised the protest through WhatsApp chats, with many students from across India keen to participate. However, due to the COVID-19 lockdown and travel restrictions, only around 30 students could attend.
Akshit Bhasin, a motor mechanics student formerly based in Sydney, also participated in the protest. He criticised the Australian government's lack of commitment and delay in providing student return plans, stating that their inaction could harm students' future prospects. The students gathered in Chandigarh to seek the Indian government's intervention, urging them to push Australian authorities to reopen borders.
The impact of the border closures on Indian students has been significant, with an 80% decline in Indian students choosing Australia as a study destination. This has resulted in a loss of over $30 billion for Australia's international education system. The prolonged closure has also led to concerns about ongoing expenses, with students continuing to pay rent and other costs in Australia while unable to return.
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Uyghur-Australian students protest against the Chinese state
Uyghur-Australian students have been protesting against the Chinese state's treatment of Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang region. One such student, Adila Yarmuhammad, has been protesting every Friday outside the Chinese consulate in Adelaide, which is home to one of the largest Uyghur communities outside Turkey. Ms Yarmuhammad and other Uyghur-Australian students are raising awareness of the plight of the Uyghurs in China, including the Chinese state's alleged detention of more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims, as well as forced labour, sterilisation, and other abuses.
Uyghur-Australian students' protests against the Chinese state have not been without consequences, as they have faced threats, intimidation, and harassment. Ms Yarmuhammad, for instance, has experienced increased online abuse, with people controlled by China, defending China, or believing that everything China does is right. Similarly, Uyghur-Australian students' phone calls have been monitored, with some receiving phone calls at least once a day a couple of years ago.
Uyghur-Australian students are not alone in protesting against the Chinese state in Australia. Chinese student Horror Zoo, for example, has also been speaking out against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from Australia. Ms Zoo decided to organise a protest against the CCP in Melbourne, following reports that Chinese bloggers and doctors who tried to warn people about Covid had been censored by the state. However, like many activists, she has faced intimidation and threats, with people saying they want to kill her.
Drew Pavlou, a student at the University of Queensland, is another example of an Australian student speaking out against the Chinese state. In 2019, he held a protest at his university in support of the Hong Kong independence movement, during which he was attacked by CCP supporters. Since then, he has continued to protest against the Chinese state, including by displaying the flags of Tibet, Taiwan, and East Turkestan outside the Chinese Embassy in London, resulting in his detention by the Metropolitan Police.
While international students in Australia have the right to protest, they often face challenges and risks, including harassment, intimidation, and even physical violence. In addition, there are concerns that Australian universities are not doing enough to protect these students from such incidents and safeguard their academic freedom.
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International students' protests against universities' inaction on harassment
International students in Australia have been protesting against their universities' inaction on harassment and surveillance by the Chinese government. While universities in the country have "long-established and robust policies" to deal with coercion and intimidation, they have been accused of turning a blind eye to the issue of Chinese students being harassed for expressing views contrary to those of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Protests in Hong Kong have inspired student protests in Australia, but participants have faced doxing and harassment. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Australian universities of failing in their duty to protect these students, with Sophie McNeill of HRW stating that "Australian universities rely on the fees international students bring, while turning a blind eye to concerns about harassment and surveillance by the Chinese government and its proxies".
Many Chinese students in Australia have faced intimidation and threats for speaking out against the CCP. One student, Horror Zoo, organised a protest against the CCP in Melbourne and also ran a Twitter account parodying Chinese president Xi Jinping, which was suspended. Zoo believes her online activism led the Chinese police to call her parents, who are supportive of the CCP, and she has since faced online threats and mental health issues. Uyghur-Australian student Adila Yarmuhammad has also been protesting outside the Chinese consulate in Adelaide, which is home to one of the largest Uyghur communities outside Turkey. She and others like her have faced the fear of being watched, with many receiving daily phone calls a few years ago.
Amnesty International has also reported on the issue, stating that Chinese and Hong Kong students studying abroad live in fear of intimidation, harassment, and surveillance as Chinese authorities try to prevent them from engaging with 'sensitive' or political issues. They have called on host governments and universities to do more to protect the rights of students who face transnational repression.
While universities in Australia have denied the accusations and reaffirmed their commitment to academic freedom and intellectual inquiry, organisations have expressed concern over the findings.
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International students' protests against interference and in support of Hong Kong
International students in Australia have been protesting against the interference of the Chinese government and in support of Hong Kong. These protests have been sparked by reports of the Chinese government's mistreatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the origins of the pandemic.
Uyghur-Australian student Adila Yarmuhammad has been protesting outside the Chinese consulate in Adelaide, which is home to one of the largest Uyghur communities outside of Turkey. She and other Uyghur Australians fear that their activism has led to being watched and monitored by the Chinese government.
Chinese student Horror Zoo has also been speaking out against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Australia. She has experienced intimidation and threats as a result of her activism, including online threats that have caused her mental health to decline. Zoo also ran a Twitter account parodying Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was suspended by the platform. She believes her activism led the Chinese police to contact her parents, who now believe she betrayed China.
Protests in Hong Kong have also inspired student protests in Australia. However, participants in these protests have faced doxxing and harassment. Human Rights Watch has accused Australian universities of failing to protect Chinese students from this treatment when they express views that counter the CCP.
While international students in Australia are permitted to protest, they may face challenges and risks, such as intimidation and threats, as seen in the experiences of Zoo and other activists.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, international students can protest in Australia. Hundreds of international students have protested against the Australian government's recent changes to its migration program.
International students who protest in Australia may face risks such as intimidation, threats, and harassment.
In 2021, Indian international students and temporary graduate visa holders protested against Australia's prolonged border closure, which left over 164,000 visa holders stranded outside the country.
The Australian government announced that it was intensifying attempts to open borders under vaccine distribution, and international students would be given priority to enter the country.
Uyghur-Australian students have been protesting against the Chinese state's treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang, facing risks of surveillance and intimidation. Chinese international students in Australia who criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have also faced threats and harassment.
