Incoming Guild president accuses Birmingham Uni of spying on her amid disciplinary hearing

The incoming 2025/26 Guild president has accused the University of Birmingham of spying on her amid a disciplinary hearing.

Antonia Listrat alleged that the University of Birmingham has been targeting and tracking her with CCTV, as she faced a disciplinary hearing today (7th April).

The third-year law with globalisation student released a statement yesterday on Instagram claiming: “The University of Birmingham is in gross violation of our human rights.”

“Through a Data Subject Access Request, I uncovered physical evidence to prove what I already knew – that the University of Birmingham has been relentlessly targeting and subjecting me to discrimination and surveillance for my pro-Palestine beliefs.”

Antonia, who has been participating in pro-Palestine protests at the university for a number of months, continued by saying: “For 12 months, the university has kept a folder titled ‘Blue’ (my code name during the encampment last summer). They have followed me around campus, and even used CCTV from inside study spaces like the Nuffield Building, in order to identify and monitor my presence at Pro-Palestine protests.”

She added that this is an alleged “direct violation of the Equality Act 2010, because it discriminates against me.”

“The evidence shows the Student Conduct and Legal teams actively searching for evidence of me protesting for Palestine. There are multiple references made to the fact that they were trying to suspend me for participating in unauthorised protest.”

Antonia was elected University of Birmingham Student Guild president for the 2025/2026 cycle in March. However, she has faced a disciplinary hearing today relating to her alleged actions during pro-Palestine protests, during which she was accused of intimidation and participating in unauthorised protests.

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Antonia and Mariyah (another student facing disciplinary action), have been facing what campaigners claim is a “deeply prejudiced, management-driven disciplinary process” since May 2024 when the disciplinary was first raised for their involvement in a protest staged outside a university meeting to demand divestment of over £76 million in investments supposedly linked to Israel.

The third year student further claimed that she was investigated for clapping while chanting: “Stop killing babies.”

The Birmingham Tab contaced the University of Birmingham for comment. A spokesperson said: “The University of Birmingham is a large community representing a wide range of backgrounds and views. We have a strong and longstanding commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom, supported by our Code of Practice. Through this we regularly facilitate debates and activities (such as rallies) on sensitive but important topics. This year, that has included signing off many events on a range of issues, including, for example, in relation to Palestine.

Featured image via Antonia Listrat