Statement on the civil clause

3 October 2024

The University of Hamburg has a special responsibility to oppose war and militarisation, not only because of its size, but also because of its colonial history. Research institutions must be run with a civil and social concern in order to avoid becoming a stooge of politics. This self-image also includes academic freedom, which does not conflict with an academic consensus on the civilian orientation of educational institutions. We therefore call on the University of Hamburg, all universities in Hamburg and nationwide to speak out in favour of civilian purposes of education and science and not to allow themselves to be instrumentalised by rearmament efforts. The Bundeswehr has as little place at our university as any other military institution! Our campus remains peaceful!

We therefore endorse the demands of the fzs (free association of student bodies) and the petition ‘Not in Our Name’ by sciene4peace.

 Here you can find the demands of the fzs: https://www.fzs.de/2023/08/05/zivilklausel-verteidigen/#mce_temp_url#

Here you can find the sciene4peace petition: https://www.science4peacedesy.de/Petitions/Entries/2024/7/petition-not-in-our-name.html#mce_temp_url#

Your AStA of the University of Hamburg