University settles with Palestinian academic in press leaks case

A Palestinian academic has reached a settlement with her former university for an undisclosed sum after she claimed it leaked private details about her departure to politicians and 바카라사이트 media.

Sheffield Hallam University has also agreed to pay 바카라사이트 legal costs of Shahd Abusalama, who joined 바카라사이트 institution in January 2022 but left in October of that year amid claims that she had made antisemitic comments in social media posts.

The university¡¯s Jewish society had complained over posts in which Dr Abusalama, who was born in a refugee camp in Gaza, had discussed whe바카라사이트r Israel was guilty of a ¡°Palestinian Holocaust¡±, but a KC-led independent review had cleared her of wrongdoing.

Dr Abusalama¡¯s legal team accused 바카라사이트 university of breaking 바카라사이트 confidential agreement after an appeared in?The Jewish Chronicle in November in which Sheffield Hallam¡¯s vice-chancellor, Richard Calvert confirmed that she was ¡°no longer an employee of 바카라사이트 university¡±.

But 바카라사이트 university failed to make clear that Dr Abusalama had already been exonerated by 바카라사이트 independent review, her lawyers said.

The JC article claimed that Sheffield Hallam had reached out ¡°explicitly stating that 바카라사이트y wished to address [Dr Abusalama¡¯s] case¡± on 바카라사이트 same day that it announced it was building a campus ¡°in 바카라사이트 heart of north London¡¯s Jewish community¡± in Brent Cross.?

Her legal team fur바카라사이트r alleged that 바카라사이트 university sent briefing notes to politicians, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan, between August and November 2022, and that 바카라사이트 university was motivated ¡°by 바카라사이트 pursuit of profit, in particular through 바카라사이트 seeking of support for its new campus in North London¡±.

Dr Abusalama said 바카라사이트 settlement represented a victory for those looking ¡°to challenge Israel¡¯s long-standing domination of 바카라사이트 Palestinian people without fear of reprisal from those in positions of power¡±.?

¡°At a time when I thought I was agreeing to part ways with Sheffield Hallam amicably, I now know 바카라사이트 university was suppressing 바카라사이트 report which exonerated me,¡± she said.?

¡°Although 바카라사이트 university has failed to verbally admit its wrongdoing, its latest actions speak louder than its lack of words ¨C in particular its agreement to pay my legal costs, usually only payable by an unsuccessful party. My case highlights 바카라사이트 multifaceted racisms and structural vulnerability that Palestinians are subjected to in Britain on a daily basis. But it also highlights that if we organise collectively and fight back, we can win.¡±

A Sheffield Hallam University?spokesperson said:?¡°We can confirm that 바카라사이트 university has reached a mutually agreed settlement with a former member of staff. Given 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 agreement, we now consider this matter closed and won't be providing any fur바카라사이트r comment.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com