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
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
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed

Scottish university dismisses Rector for denouncing Israeli war crimes

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 3 Aug 2024 10:11
3 Min Read

St Andrews Univerity claims Maris had exercised "poor judgment" by sharing her personal opinions on the war on Gaza with all students.

Listen
  • x
  • PC
    A picture of Stella Maris, the rector of St Andrews University in Scotland. (St Andrews Students' Association)

The rector of St Andrews University in Scotland has been dismissed from the institution's governing body over her remarks regarding the Israeli occupation entity's ongoing "genocidal attacks" on the Gaza Strip, the Middle East Monitor (MEMO) news website reported on Friday.

Stella Maris emailed the university’s students last November, sharing her "personal perspectives and understanding regarding the Israeli-Palestine conflict directly to the students who elected me."

"We must continue to recognize and condemn acts that are internationally regarded as humanitarian and war crimes. These include practices such as apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment, which have been observed in the treatment of Palestinians," Maris wrote in her email.

On Thursday, St Andrews University announced that Maris would be "discharged from the role of President of Court and as a charity trustee," accusing the rector of "repeatedly" declining to accept the conclusion of an independent investigation.

The university stated that the decision "is the conclusion of a lengthy process which began in November 2023 when Ms Maris, as Rector, issued a message to all 10,000 St Andrews students offering her personal opinions on the conflict in Gaza and Israel."

The statement claimed that Maris published a series of posts on social media, some of which the subsequent independent investigation found were "discourteous and disrespectful" in dismissing fears "raised by students who had contacted her seeking reassurance."

Related News

Iran defends regional policies, warns of escalating aggression in Gaza

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

The investigation concluded that while Maris "was entitled to free speech," she had exercised "poor judgment" by sharing her personal opinions with all students, "specifically in ignoring the possibility that her words from a position of leadership could encourage antisemitic behavior by others."

In response, Mairs said the decision sets a "dangerous precedent for freedom of speech," adding that, it is clear that she has been removed from university court "because I called for an end to Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians, and I will not apologize for doing so."

"As a young, neurodiverse Black woman with limited financial resources, I have faced the full force of the university, including a KC investigation, all because I made a statement supported by the overwhelming majority of students, calling for an end to a genocide," Maris reportedly explained.

On his part, Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a renowned British-Palestinian surgeon who volunteered in Gaza hospitals during the first weeks of the Israeli war and serves as Rector at the University of Glasgow, slammed St Andrews University's decision.

"The silencing of pro-Palestinian or anti-genocide voices is the reason why this genocide is still going on after 10 months," Abu Sitta pointed out, adding that "these institutions have been part of a system of genocide enablement that has emboldened the Israeli government in its attempts to erase the Palestinian people."

Maris has announced her intention to appeal the decision with support from the European Legal Support Centre, warning that the "idea that Palestinian human rights and the war crimes of Israel in Gaza cannot be discussed in higher education is deeply concerning."

While she will no longer serve as president of the university court, Maris will remain as Rector, a student-elected position, until her term ends in October 2026.

Read more: Scottish council decision to fly Palestinian flag enrages pro-Israelis

  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Scotland
  • Gaza
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