Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police

Letters read in Senate expose AHRC mistreatment of pro-Palestine staff

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 23 Aug 2024 18:57
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

A former AHRC staff member claims that the management views her Palestinian identity as a risk and leaks information about her to a "shock jock".

Listen
  • x
  • Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, undated. (Social media)
    Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, undated (Social media)

Human rights lawyer Sara Saleh has claimed that senior management at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) viewed her Palestinian identity as a risk and even leaked details about her to a right-wing commentator, as revealed in a Senate session.

Saleh, who worked as a legal researcher at the commission, is among at least seven employees who resigned in the last quarter, citing concerns over the AHRC’s treatment of staff who express support for Palestinians, according to Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi.

Faruqi, speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, read excerpts from four resignation letters under parliamentary privilege, highlighting the growing internal dissent. She said, "Sara Saleh’s resignation letter spoke of how her identity was viewed as a risk by senior management, and how a rightwing hit piece on her was circulated."

Guardian Australia reported that the "hit piece" article targeted Sara Saleh’s appointment at the AHRC, criticizing her public support for Palestinians and her stance against "Israel". The article was then circulated to commission staff as part of the daily media roundup. 

In her resignation letter, which was read in the Senate by Mehreen Faruqi, Saleh expressed that the "deliberate circulation" of a "defamatory" news article was "egregious, damaging to my reputation, and deeply hurtful." She added that it sent a chilling message to staff of color, signaling that the commission is capable of distributing hostile commentary about them in the future.

Read next: Professors being fired from jobs for pro-Palestine speech, solidarity

Related News

Iran defends regional policies, warns of escalating aggression in Gaza

Gaza flattened for pay, not need: IOF reward operators for each ruin

In July, 2GB radio host Ray Hadley claimed in an "exclusive" report that the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) had confirmed Sara Saleh’s resignation. Saleh’s resignation letter, quoted by Mehreen Faruqi in the Senate, revealed that this information was disclosed against her wishes, enabling “radio shock jocks, among others, to publicly humiliate me and attack my reputation.”

Another former staff member, Hiero Badge, also voiced concerns in their resignation letter, claiming the presence of "internal suppression of pro-Palestinian perspectives and voices" within the commission. Faruqi shared these details under parliamentary privilege, highlighting a broader issue of stifled expression regarding Palestinian support within the AHRC.

“In one instance, I was informally cautioned by a senior official for using the phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ on my personal social media. Similarly, I was informally reprimanded for summarising a UN press release on the situation of women and girls in Gaza,” Badge’s letter reads.

Another resignation letter quoted by Faruqi alleged institutional racism and hostile working conditions at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). Faruqi attempted to table the four letters in the Senate, but her request was denied.

A global campaign against pro-Palestine views has led to widespread consequences. Employees, professors, students, and others are facing serious repercussions for expressing support for Palestine. This includes job losses, academic penalties, and social backlash, highlighting the growing suppression of pro-Palestine voices worldwide.

Only last month, the Cultural Workers Against Genocide (CWAG) claimed on July 10 that fourteen ICA staff members were informed of their impending redundancies in March.

The staff members from London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) linked their termination to their pro-Palestine activism, namely their involvement in posting a letter on the ICA’s website urging the institution to boycott “Israel” amid its genocide in Gaza, the Cultural Workers Against Genocide (CWAG) claimed.

  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • pro-Palestine protest
  • Palestine
  • Gaza genocide
  • Australia
  • Gaza
  • AHRC
  • Pro-Palestine
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS