The University of Birmingham’s decision to suspend five students after a protest has been slammed by prominent academics, artists and politicians including Noam Chomsky and Ken Loach.

In an open letter published in a national newspaper, 40 signatories described the university’s actions as “at odds with freedom of speech and the right to protest”.

They said the response set “a threatening precedent for how dissent is dealt with on campuses across the country”.

The group Defend Education Birmingham claimed to be behind the protest which complained at the lack of democracy in the university, the treatment and pay of university staff, and the privatisation of the student loan book.

The protest began on January 29 when 150 students met to discuss the campaign and then marched around the campus with masks and flags. Some unfurled a banner from the top of the university’s clock tower.

But the protest descended into violence at the university’s Aston Webb’s Great Hall when police were called and protesters were accused of breaking doors, hurling smoke bombs and allegedly attacking campus staff.

A total of 13 students aged between 18 and 24-years-old, were arrested on suspicion of offences including aggravated trespass, assault and criminal damage.

In the wake of the outbreak on West Midlands Police Superintendent Lee Kendrick said: “This may well have been billed as a peaceful protest but it escalated into a serious public order incident – a criminal investigation has been launched and anyone found to have acted unlawfully will be punished.”

It was claimed that police “kettled” the protesters and demanded personal details in exchange for release. But the force denied the group was kettled, which is a controversial tactic for controlling crowds by containing them in a limited area.

A group had also barricaded themselves inside the Horton Grange on the campus for more than a week. It was the second such ‘peaceful’ protest at the site.

On February 3 the university successfully secured an injunction at the High Court evicting the protestors.

In the letter, philosopher Chomsky, filmmaker Loach, ex-city MP Clare Short, and teh rest of the signatories, say: “These suspensions follow a national meeting and demonstration at the university, which culminated in an occupation of the Aston Webb’s Great Hall. When the students attempted to peacefully leave the hall, they were kettled by police officers and university security.

“These suspensions are at odds with freedom of speech and the right to protest, setting a threatening precedent for how dissent is dealt with on campuses across the country.

“These actions follow recent suspensions at Sussex University, which have directly targeted those who use their democratic right to speak up and demonstrate for the betterment of education.

“We believe that the suspensions at the University of Birmingham are further evidence of the contempt for freedom of expression, both political and academic, in the contemporary university.

“It is becoming more apparent that those who manage our education have very little interest in serving those students and lecturers without whom education would not be possible. We condemn these suspensions in the strongest terms and call for the immediate reinstatement of the students affected.”

Three students have appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court over the violent protests, each charged with violent disorder. Tomacz Fry-Morgan, 22, of Harcourt Road, Sheffield; Panagiodis Theodoropoulos, 20, of Arncliffe Terrace, Bradford and Simon Furse, 22, of Pershore Road, Edgbaston all pleaded not guilty.

They were released on conditional bail to appear at Birmingham crown court on May 23.

The five students who were suspended received an email accusing them of allegedly breaching the regulations concerning student conduct; specifically, for ‘violent, indecent, disorderly, threatening, intimidating or offensive behaviour… misuse or unauthorised use of University premises’ and ‘action likely to cause injury or impair safety on University premises’.

In spite of repeated attempts the University of Birmingham did not comment on the letter.