The University of Paris 8 has canceled an anti-Israeli conference in the French capital despite its initial approval of the academic gathering.

The French university issued a statement on Sunday, claiming that the decision to cancel the event was made due to the “highly polemic nature” of the conference which could have led to “disturbances to the public order.”

The Collectif Palestine Paris 8 group was responsible for organizing the conference that was scheduled to be held on Monday.

The pro-Palestinian group received authorization from the university to hold the event in which it planned to discuss “social, historical and legal methods of internationally boycotting Israel”.

President of Paris 8 University Pascal Binczak claimed in a recent article published in the prominent French daily Le Monde that the pro-Palestinian group was “taking advantage of academic freedom.”

Binczak’s views in the article come despite a February 20 statement issued by Collectif Palestine Paris 8 saying, “Freedom of expression and academic liberties are far too precious to be smothered by intimidation campaigns.”

(Press TV)