Concerned students will hold the first in a series of protests against censorship next Friday, following the ban of a student newspaper from the University.

They plan to sit in the University's main square, gag their mouths with handkerchiefs or scarves and read out passages from "controversial" books.

The activity is being organised by theatre studies student Franco Rizzo together with the Front Against Censorship, set up by the publishers of the newspaper they are proposing to abolish censorship.

"The aim of this protest is to demonstrate that we are fed up with the current blatant imposition of censorship and would like to have it abolished.

"The first protest will take place at the University because it is highly unacceptable that the pinnacle of the education system censors a student newspaper, justifying its actions by contradictory statements and even calling in the police on the matter," Mr Rizzo said.

The newspaper was banned by the University rector because it contained a short story about sexual violence which the University at first said was also discriminatory against women. In a later statement, it said the newspaper should have warned readers it was adult reading.

Next week's protest is not restricted to University students, but is open to members of the public who also want to show their "disgruntlement".

Mr Rizzo said the demonstration was meant to promote tolerance towards views, unconventional as they may be.

"We are inviting all students to this event, to make it a point that it is time to wake up from the overwhelming intellectual slumber we are in, which is allowing censorship to take its due course."