SCORES of professors, researchers and staff have signed a petition demanding a German university allow the UN special rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, to deliver a scheduled lecture this weekend.

Ms Albanese was due to lecture on colonialism, human rights and international law on Sunday at the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), but the university promptly cancelled the event after it was made public.

LMU told organisers that the cancellation was down to the “political orientation of the lecture” and security concerns over a “clash of opinions.” Ms Albanese has been outspoken in challenging Israeli violations of international law in the Palestinian territories.