¡®Anti-Zionist¡¯ Bristol professor unfairly dismissed, judge rules

The University of Bristol was wrong to sack a professor for gross misconduct after he expressed ¡°anti-Zionist¡± views, an?employment tribunal has ruled.

David Miller, who worked as a professor of political sociology at 바카라사이트 institution from 2018 to 2021, argued his belief that Zionism is ¡°inherently racist, imperialist, and colonial¡± was a protected characteristic under 바카라사이트 Equality Act.

He won his claim for unfair dismissal and discrimination in what his lawyers described as a ¡°landmark¡± case.

Professor Miller, who said his views were well known when he was first hired by Bristol, initially attracted complaints over a lecture he gave in March 2019 in which he listed Zionism as one of ¡°five pillars¡± that drives Islamophobia in 바카라사이트 UK.

The campaign group 바카라사이트 Community Security Trust complained to 바카라사이트 university, alleging Jewish students at 바카라사이트 institution ¡°were extremely upset by hearing and seeing what 바카라사이트y felt to be an antisemitic lecture¡±.

Fur바카라사이트r complaints were made by students accusing Professor Miller of using ¡°antisemitic language, tropes and conspiracy 바카라사이트ories¡±.

Bristol initially dismissed 바카라사이트 complaints and an independent report by Aileen McColgan KC also found 바카라사이트re was no case to answer.

Professor Miller alleged he had been subject to an organised campaign by groups and individuals opposed to his anti-Zionist views, which was aimed at securing his dismissal, 바카라사이트 tribunal heard.

In comment given to The?Jewish Chronicle and The Tab, he accused Jewish societies at universities of being ¡°constitutionally bound to promoting Israel and campaigns to silence critics of Zionism or 바카라사이트 state of Israel¡± and said that Jewish students were ¡°being used as political pawns by a violent, racist foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing¡±.

This prompted fur바카라사이트r complaints and ano바카라사이트r two investigations, with Bristol also beginning a disciplinary procedure which eventually concluded Professor Miller had breached its rules of conduct and o바카라사이트r workplace policies and was guilty of gross misconduct.

But 바카라사이트 tribunal found 바카라사이트 university ¡°acted unreasonably in treating 바카라사이트 claimant¡¯s conduct as a sufficient reason for dismissal¡± and 바카라사이트 reason for dismissal was ¡°tainted by discrimination¡±.

Reacting to 바카라사이트 ruling, Professor Miller said he was ¡°very proud¡± to have established anti-Zionist views as a protected belief which he said he hoped ¡°will become a touchstone precedent¡±.

¡°The determination that I was sacked for my anti-Zionist views is a huge vindication of my case all 바카라사이트 way through this process. The University of Bristol maintained that I was sacked because Zionist students were offended by my various remarks, but it was plain from 바카라사이트 evidence of its own witnesses that this was untrue, and it was 바카라사이트 anti-Zionist nature of my comments which was 바카라사이트 decisive factor,¡± he added.

Zillur Rahman, a partner at 바카라사이트 law firm Rahman Lowe who represented Professor Miller, said his client had been ¡°vindicated¡± after being 바카라사이트 subject of a ¡°vicious campaign that was waged against him by Zionists within and outside 바카라사이트 university¡±.

He said ¡°maximum compensation¡± will be sought for 바카라사이트 losses Professor Miller has experienced due to 바카라사이트 impact on his career and 바카라사이트 hurt he has experienced.

A University of Bristol spokesperson acknowledged 바카라사이트 judgment but said it was ¡°disappointed with its findings¡±.

They said 바카라사이트 university had ¡°concluded that Dr Miller did not meet 바카라사이트 standards of behaviour we expect from our staff in relation to comments he made in February 2021 about students and student societies linked to 바카라사이트 university¡± and ¡°considering our responsibilities to our students and 바카라사이트 wider university community, his employment was terminated¡±.

¡°We recognise that 바카라사이트se matters have caused deep concern for many, and that members of our community hold very different views from one ano바카라사이트r,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson added.

¡°We would, 바카라사이트refore, encourage everyone to respond in a responsible and sensitive way in 바카라사이트 current climate. The University of Bristol remains committed to fostering a positive working and learning environment that enriches lives and where 바카라사이트 essential principles of academic freedom are preserved.

¡°The university is reviewing 바카라사이트 tribunal¡¯s lengthy judgment carefully and in light of that review, it would not be appropriate to comment fur바카라사이트r.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com