Elham Asaad Buaras
A professor dismissed by the University of Bristol over his anti-Zionist views has won a landmark ruling by an employment tribunal, which concluded that his sacking was a case of direct discrimination and therefore unlawful.
In its 108-page judgement delivered on February 5, the Bristol employment tribunal ruled that sociology professor David Miller’s anti-Zionist opinion constituted a philosophical belief, protected under the Equality Act 2010.
Rahman Lowe Solicitors, who represented Miller, called the judgement a significant triumph, establishing that anti-Zionist beliefs are by law safeguarded in the workplace.
“Professor Miller successfully claimed discrimination based on his philosophical belief that Zionism is inherently racist, imperialist, and colonial, [which is] a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, alongside a finding of unfair dismissal,” a statement issued by the solicitors said.
“This judgement establishes for the first time that anti-Zionist beliefs are protected in the workplace,” they added.
Reacting to his victory, Professor Miller said, “I am extremely pleased that the tribunal has concluded that I was unfairly and wrongfully dismissed by the University of Bristol. I am also very proud that we have managed to establish that anti-Zionist views qualify as a protected belief under the UK Equality Act.”
The academic drew controversy during a lecture at the university in 2019 when he said the Zionist movement was one of five pillars driving Islamophobia in the UK, the tribunal heard.
The University of Bristol subsequently got a complaint from the Community Security Trust charity, which said his lecture was a “false, vile… antisemitic slur”. Professor Miller was dismissed two years later in October 2021.
Speaking shortly after his dismissal, the former lecturer said the university “embarrassed itself” by “capitulating to a pressure campaign… overseen and directed by a hostile foreign government”.
At the time of his ousting, hundreds of academics from around the UK signed an open letter condemning what they described as “prolonged harassment of a highly regarded scholar.” The signatories of the letter supporting Miller include linguist Noam Chomsky and gender theorist Judith Butler, both Jewish Americans.
Professor Miller filed an employment tribunal case against the University of Bristol, alleging illegal discrimination in violation of the Equality Act 2010.
In a post on X social media platform, Miller said, “This is not just a victory for me, but also a victory for pro-Palestine campaigners across Britain.”
“Over many years, anti-Zionists have faced harassment and censorship in Britain due to the efforts of the Israel lobby. Many people have faced disciplinary procedures and lost their jobs for manifesting their anti-Zionist beliefs,” he added.
Miller expressed hope that “this case will become a touchstone precedent in all the future battles that we face with the racist and genocidal ideology of Zionism and the movement to which it is attached.”
“This verdict is also a vindication of the approach I have taken throughout this period, which is to say that genocidal and maximalist Zionism can only be effectively confronted by maximalist anti-Zionism,” he noted.
The University of Bristol said it was “disappointed”, adding: “We recognise that these matters have caused deep concern for many and that members of our community hold very different views from one another. We would, therefore, encourage everyone to respond responsibly and sensitively in the current climate.”
Photo: Professor David Miller said he was ‘very proud’ to have established that anti-Zionist views qualify as a protected belief. (Credit: Cemal Yurttaş/Anadolu Agency)
