Six students arrested over pro-Palestine posters in Kozhikode Starbucks, released on bail

They are students of Farook College in Kozhikode, and activists of the Fraternity Movement – the student wing of the Welfare Party of India.

Following the incident at the Kozhikode Starbucks outlet, police booked the six students under IPC sections 448 (trespassing), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot), 427 (causing damage) and 34 (crime committed with common intention). (Representational)

The Kerala Police on Sunday arrested, and then released on bail, six student activists after they allegedly put up posters in support of Palestine at a Starbucks outlet in Kozhikode. The charges against them included deliberate provocation with intent to cause a riot.

They are students of Farook College in Kozhikode, and activists of the Fraternity Movement – the student wing of the Welfare Party of India.

According to the FIR, the students went into the café on Thursday and put up posters that said “Free Palestine” and “Caution, contents may fund genocide”.

Around the world, activists have called for a boycott of Starbucks and several other Western multinational companies in protest against Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Last month, Starbucks said the actions against its outlets were “influenced by misrepresentation on social media of what we stand for”. “Our stance is clear. We stand for humanity,” the Starbucks statement said.

After the case was registered, other activists of the Fraternity Movement took out a march to the Starbucks outlet in Kozhikode.

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